It’s a riveting start to the sixth season of Africa’s most watched family reality show, the action-adventure reality TV contest, Gulder Ultimate Search.

Third consecutive Anchor, Bob-Manuel Udokwu welcome viewers to the sixth season of Nigeria’s longest running and most-watched reality TV show in sub-Saharan Africa, Gulder Ultimate Search VI. He enjoined viewers across the continent, extending to parts of Europe, America and Asian to be guests “for the next 21 days as our valiant contestants battle the elements in the forest of Agba, Osun State for the honour of being the Ultimate man or woman.”

The Nollywood hunk who also anchored the two consecutive previous seasons of the popular family reality TV show reminded viewers of the mouthwatering prizes at stake in this year’s edition of Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS), sponsored on the bill of Gulder, the premium lager beer brand on the rich brand portfolio of the nation’s brewing giant, Nigerian Breweries Plc.

The life time opportunity accruable from winning the Ultimate prize of GUS, according to Bob, “has challenged many Nigerians in the last five seasons of the show.”

On this note, he took viewers down memory lane through the highlights of last season’s show, which held in Awgu Hills in Enugu, Enugu State.
According to the Narrator (returning GUS veteran, Femi Sowolu), last years GUS saw thousands of applicants streaming into stadium and audition venues across the country to take a shot at the life time opportunity of winning fame and fortune by becoming the Ultimate man or woman the will be the face of Gulder lager beer for 12 months.

As with previous seasons, last year’s Search saw a lot of hopefuls who think they have what it takes to take on the elements that characterize the GUS contest. However, from the running stages to other physical and fitness tasks dished out to prospective Searchers from the regional auditions, many soon found out it takes more than talking to be part of Gulder Ultimate Search. As usual, swimming also takes its toll and eliminates some of the contestants even before the show starts. This is not also forgetting the important issue of medicals. Most contestants who think they are healthy often woke up to the rude shock of their true state of health as many who appears healthy physically are often discovered to be casualties waiting to happen. According to the Narrator, height also plays a vital role in regional elimination process.

The regional finalists are taking to the Sea School in Lagos where trained instructors put them to test on various skills. Success at the Sea School owe to certain factors. According to the Narrator: “Some people are more successful than others, while some are more careful than others.”
The Sea School tests involves the ultimate test of courage to determine the final 10 contestants that can truly brave the odds and battle the elements in the jungle for the real Search.

Viewers again relish the ecstatic moments recorded during the selection of the final 10 that took on Awgu Hills last season. However, the Narrator said, “the joy of being selected will soon exchange for the harsh realities of life in the Hills.” As it turned out, the Searchers soon encounter a serious challenge in building a tent to give them shelter in the high altitude and unpredictable weather of Awgu Hills.

Soon, the elements began to take their toll on the contestants, one by one, they fell along the way as the Search progresses rising as action builds on Awgu Hills to a crescendo culminating in the eventual discovery of The Lost Chronicle by Michael Nwachukwu who was crowned the Ultimate Man of Gulder Ultimate Search V.

The booming voice of Bob Manuel reminds viewers of the treasure being sought this season. “This year, the quest is for the Horn of Valour,” he says.
According to him, the Horn of Valour is an object a legendary hunter buried somewhere in the forest until it was found by someone deemed worthy enough to carry the legend into the future.”

The quest to find the object is a Herculean task which involves the fittest participating. “To be one of the final 10, you must overcome some obstacles.” Like in previous years, this year’s search for the 10 men and women that would take on the task of braving the jungle in Search of the Horn of Valour saw thousands of prospective contestants tested all over the federation.

Again, the booming voice of the veteran broadcaster, Femi Sowoolu took viewers into the heart of the action at the regional auditions of Gulder Ultimate Search VI where everyone always thinks they “have what it takes to be in the Search”. While some boast “I want to be the Ultimate man,” others admits “I believe I am fit to be there,” still some say “I have what it takes to be invited to the jungle for the Search.” Indeed, a lady boasted “I can’t wait to go there and show everybody what stuff I’m made of, you know, to be the Ultimate woman.”

However, the reverse was the case in most instances as events turned out at the regional auditions held in Benin, Enugu, Owerri Abuja, Jos and Lagos. Many could not even make it to the swimming test task despite their boasts. Propestive contestants put every trick in the books to use to get through, but the GUS judges prove too alert to be deceived.

Again, like in previous seasons, the swimming task exerts rib-cracking comic moments. Though, most of the contestants boasted “Yes, I can swim” before they jumped into the pool, some have to be fished out of the shallow waters as their limbs failed to move them from the spot they seem to maintain in the pool.
Still, the medical tests carried out by medical team using latest technology also eliminated quite a number of contestants. Contestants were tested for heart read, blood pressure, weight, and host other health concerns to determine state of health. According to the Narrator said: “machines don’t lie.”

Of the 14, 910 applicants that registered to audition for GUS VI, 8, 304 qualified for the regional selection, of these, only 108 were successful. After the rigours of the regional auditions, only 36 contestants were considered worthy of a shot at the final audition at Sea School in Lagos. The final 36 will be pruned down to 18 of which only 10 will be chosen to participate in the Gulder Ultimate Search VI, searching for the Horn of Valour.