MTV sets date for new 'Challenge' dedicated to Diem Brown, Ryan Knight
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Never has the title of MTV’s The Challenge been more crushingly poignant. As the series enters its 26th season, the show also mourns the loss of veterans Diem Brown and Ryan Knight, who died within weeks of one another in November.
EW can exclusively reveal that The Challenge is dedicating its next season Battle of the Exes II (premiering Jan. 6, 2015, at 11 p.m. ET) to Brown and Knight, who died Nov. 27 at the age of 29. Both competed in Exes II, Diem with former on-screen love Chris “CT” Tamburello and Knight with his ex (and former Real World: New Orleans housemate) Jemmye Carroll.
MTV is also honoring Brown with a We <3 Diem special on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 9 p.m. ET. A passionate and outspoken advocate for women’s health, the eight-time Challenge competitor collapsed during filming in September and ultimately lost her third battle with cancer on Nov. 14 at the age of 34. “Since debuting on MTV’s The Challenge in 2006 and battling cancer three times in the public eye, Diem Brown has become a role model for her courage and positivity to thousands of fans,” the network said in a statement. “We’ve followed her through her unwavering attempts to win a Challenge and her infamous on/off relationship with fellow cast mate and longtime love CT, while simultaneously combating her disease off-camera. In We <3 Diem, we look back at Diem’s powerful journey, giving tribute to her perseverance and strength through it all.”
Eleven more couples joined Diem, CT, Knight, and Jemmye in Panama for Exes II, including partners from The Real World: Ex-plosion and Are You the One? Though the $350,000 prize remains the same, Exes II is adding a new midseason twist called “Battle of the Ex-iled,” in which eliminated partners can return to reclaim their place in the competition.
The remaining teams include:
“Bananas” is currently spoken for, and his one-time hook-up with Nany happened off-screen, so it seems unlikely viewers will ever see any action. But seeing how bossy, hyper-competitive “Bananas” deals with a partner is always transfixing.
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Another ill-advised couple from Are You the One?, Simone wouldn’t stop pursuing John even when the Truth Booth denied their compatibility.
The Challenge: Battle of the Exes II premieres Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at 11 p.m. ET on MTV.
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