Jeff Probst Reveals Romances Between ‘Survivor’ Crew Members Have Led to Dozens of  ‘Survivor Babies’ 

Over the last 25 years, “Survivor” has given birth to some of the most memorable on-screen romances in reality TV history. Most famously, “Boston Rob” Mariano and Amber Brkich’s “Survivor: All Stars” showmance has since transformed into a 20-year marriage, with the couple having welcomed four daughters together along the way. 

While Rob and Amber are far from the only past “Survivor” contestants who have celebrated romance and parenthood together since appearing on the show, longtime host and executive producer Jeff Probst has revealed that the show’s crew has welcomed even more “Survivor Babies” behind the scenes over the years. 

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‘Survivor’ Crew Members’ On-Set Romances Led to 67 Babies

Across 50 seasons of the Emmy-winning reality competition series, Probst told PEOPLE that a total of 67 “Survivor babies” have been born from crew members who met and fell in love on set. 

Now, several of those children live at “Survivor’s” base camp in Fiji, often accompanying their parents on set while they work on the show – a policy that Probst enthusiastically encourages. 

“You can be out here at any given point in a season and see between seven and 13 little people,” Probst told PEOPLE, adding that other “Survivor babies” who have since grown into young adults are also present on set, aiding their crew member parents on production projects. 

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Probst Opens Up About Changing ‘Survivor’s Family Policy

After becoming showrunner in 2010, Probst revealed that changing the show’s family visiting policy was “literally the first thing” on his to-do list. Citing the many months that “Survivor” crew members spend away from their families each year, Probst altered the policy to ensure that every day on the “Survivor” set was ‘Bring Your Kid to Work Day.” 

“As people started having kids, they’re not going to want to leave them. I know because I deal with it,” added Probst, who is the stepfather of two children with his wife, Lisa Ann Russell. 

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The altered policy was especially important for Probst when it came to preserving long-time crew members, many of whom started working on “Survivor” during its early years as members of the Dream Team – who assist across all production departments doing things like testing challenges and acting as lighting stand-ins – before moving into higher-level production roles. 

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‘Survivor’ Babies Make the Set Feel Like One Big Family

While the presence of “Survivor babies” on set might not be obvious to the average viewer, Probst revealed that, behind the scenes, the evidence is everywhere, from high chairs scattered throughout the catering hall to strollers parked outside crew accommodations. The names of several “Survivor” babies are even emblazoned on the boats that carry crew members and contestants to and from different islands throughout Fiji. 

Offering specific examples, Probst references co-executive producer Brittany Crapper, whose three daughters are a welcome presence on set. 

“I see her three little girls – married to a guy who also worked on the show forever, and they’re both Dream Teamers. It’s …crazy! It’s amazing! It just doesn’t happen anywhere.”

The host added that crew member’s kids often get involved on set, including director David Dryden’s son Levi, who acts as Probst’s “partner” when the cameras aren’t rolling. “He’s got a shirt on, two walkies in his ears: ‘Dad, Jeff’s ready’,” Probst said. 

Executive producer Matt Van Wagenen’s daughter Lyla similarly lends a hand in the wardrobe and makeup department. 

“She gives me my shirt to wear and my shorts to wear, so they feel like they’re crew members,” said Probst, adding, “They are [crew members]!”

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‘Survivor’ Producer Praises Probst’s Support for Parents on Set

Opening up about Probst’s family visiting policy, “Survivor” senior producer Riley Rantfle – who met her husband, David Rantle, on set before welcoming her four-year-old daughter Charlie and two-year-old son Bud – said that the “extremely supportive” environment allowed her to continue her career while being a parent. 

“I can actually have both – and no one sees me differently. It’s not like you’re a mom or you can’t handle it – that just doesn’t seem to come into play at all,” said Rantfle, who added that she likely would have left the show if Probst wasn’t so accomodating about her children joining her on set. 

Even when Rantfle opted to leave Charlie and Bud at home, she revealed that Probst would encourage her to bring the “Survivor” babies to set more often. 

“I’m like, ‘I’m at work.’ He’s like, ‘Bring her, don’t be silly,” Rantfle told PEOPLE. “I always like to get permission, so I always ask before like, ‘Can I bring Charlie and Bud to rehearsal?’ And he just wrote back recently, ‘Consider this as always a yes – no need to ask again.’”

According to the producer, her children spend their days on the “Survivor” set hunting for hermit crabs on the beach and feeding fish off the peir, as well as lending their little hands to various crew members on different projects. 

“They’ll go into catering and wander off, and Bud will be sitting with the sign-in desk, handing the pen over to crew members to sing in for lunch,” Riley said, adding, “We always worry when we’re here with the kids that they’re going to be so bored when we go home. Because here they’ve got built-in playmates.” 

Probst’s dedication to a family-oriented environment behind-the-scenes has similarly influenced his desire to make “Survivor” as family-friendly for viewers as possible.