Southampton Man Featured On New Season Of 'Naked And Afraid XL'

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton resident Jonathan Bonessi is showing off his survival skills in the scorching Sahara: He's one of 12 men and women featured on this year's season of "Naked and Afraid XL," currently airing on Sundays on the Discovery Channel.

"Naked and Afraid XL" takes the premise of the show — where one man and woman woman were typically dropped in a desolate location with one item each and challenged to survive for 21 days— to the next level. In "Naked and Afraid XL", the dozen contestants enter "The Valley of the Banished" and are forced to survive for 40 long days, struggling with starvation and startling encounters with alligators and other toxic surprises.

And to make the seemingly impossible even more challenging: New this season is the twist that teams can banish others who "aren't pulling their weight to survive," a release said.

A chef/butcher by trade, Bonessi is no stranger to heated terrain, the release said: "In 2013, he ventured alone to an island off West Sumatra Indonesia. After that experience, Bonessi became addicted to torturous conditions and wanted to experience something more. On a limb, he applied for 'Naked and Afraid' and he is making his first 'Naked and Afraid XL' appearance."

Bonessi, originally from East Islip, said he has been living in working in Southampton for almost 10 years now, first in restaurants and now, at Flying Point Surf & Sport.

"Bush craft and primitive survival have always been a hobby of mine," Bonessi said.

Bonessi said as a contestant on the show he completed his 21 day challenge in the jungle of Subic Bay in the Phillipines in April, 2019, and was shipped to Africa to attempt a 40-day challenge in September of the same year.

"I was a lifelong kitchen worker/chef and I think those problem-solving skills under pressure helped me get through," he said. "Although the stress of Sunday brunch in the Hamptons vs. facing down Nile crocodiles while nude in Africa are incomparable, the lessons shine through — you don't get to quit."

Luckily, he added, his employers at Flying Point Surf were "understanding of my need to spend two of the last sixmonths naked in some of the more hostile environments Planet Earth has to offer."

(Video courtesy of the Discovery Channel)

The new season of "Naked and Afraid XL" will follow the veteran survivalists to "a grueling kill zone in South Africa, a land so punishing and deadly that generations of ancient tribes were forced to survive by one brutal principle — banishing the weak. For the first time, four teams of 'Naked and Afraid' veterans will have to follow the same rules for 40 days and 40 nights. In an environment where there is little to no vegetation and resources are nearly impossible to come by, only the strong will survive. Each survivalist must prove their worth to the group, or risk being cast out," the release said.

The environment and new team dynamics push the survivalists from the moment the challenge begins, the release added.

"To make it through this 40-day challenge alive, every survivalist will have to earn every step; while weak links will be cast out for the greater good of the group. All must give it their all or get out," the release said. "In an all-new season of 'Naked and Afraid XL', only the strong will survive as a new crop of survivalists, including some seeking redemption, are looking to make their mark on this challenge. Facing unforgiving conditions, grueling temperatures and clashing personalities, these survivalists will be pushed to their limits."

"Naked and Afraid XL" airs on Sundays at 8 p.m. on Discovery. Viewers can also catch up on all episodes of "Naked and Afraid" and "Naked and Afraid XL" on Discovery Go and Discovery.com. In addition to watching the series on Discovery, viewers can check out new episodes each week by downloading the Discovery GO app. Fans can join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #NakedandAfraidXL and by following Naked and Afraid on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates.

Also on Sundays, survivalists will chat about their experiences during "Naked and Afraid" watch parties on June 14 and June 19 at 9 p.m. In addition, 'XL' veterans will check out the current season of the series and giving "their true and unfiltered opinions" in "Naked and Afraid XL: Clothed and Opinionated," on June 28 at 9 p.m.

"Naked and Afraid XL" and "Naked and Afraid Clothes and Opinionated", as well as "Naked and Afraid Watch Party" are produced for Discovery Channel by Renegade 83, an eOne company.