You need only look to Twitter to see the lingering friction between this year's participants of SBS reality show Go Back to Where You Came From.
Following on from last year's multi-award winning show, the return series features six prominent Australians who travel to Afghanistan, Somalia and Indonesia to experience the reality of refugee life.
Given the participants - former shock jock Michael Smith, former Howard government minister Peter Reith, model and actor Imogen Bailey, musician Angry Anderson, former Commonwealth Ombudsman Allan Asher and outspoken comedy writer Catherine Deveny - conflicts of opinion are guaranteed, and explosive moments should be expected, says series producer Rick McPhee.
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“When we came together in Indonesia, Imogen Bailey did confront Peter Reith over children overboard,” he said.
“They had an interesting conversation about [that]."
On Twitter this morning, Allan Asher published what appeared to be a shaded dig at Michael Smith, calling for viewers to “overcome the tyranny of shock jocks”.
Catherine Deveny was more direct, hurling a five-letter insult at Peter Reith for telling SBS News there was “no way” he would participate in Go Back again.
Speaking to SBS News today, Ms Bailey denied there was any outright hostility between the participants.
“I haven't purposely not kept in contact with any of the others, I think that just naturally happens,” she said.
“When I catch up with Michael I'll probably give him a hug and then punch him afterwards.”
Ms Bailey said she understood it was hard for some of the participants to change their views on the subject of asylum seekers.
“I saw them all crying, and I do actually feel that their views changed more than they said,” she said.
“But when you're in politics or you're in media or you believe you have a future in politics, it's very hard to back-pedal to change your mind, because unfortunately we see that as a sign of weakness.
“I think the lesson for us as viewers, is we need to be open to politicians and people in the media changing their mind.”
Go Back to Where You Came From airs on SBS ONE tonight at 8.30pm, and continues Wednesday and Thursday.
You can join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #GoBackSBS
