'Lost' production begins

NBC's new reality series Lost began last night, with six contestants being stranded in the middle of nowhere.

The programme, which premieres on Wednesday September 5, will run for six weeks, and chart their return home.

The three pairs of strangers were dropped off by helicopter in a remote location early yesterday evening, with only a small amount of money and a cameraman to film their plight.

The first team to make it back to the Statue of Liberty will win the $200,000 jackpot.

The contestants:

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Name: Dan
From: Born in Orange, CO; now lives in Stamford, CT
Age: 27
Other: Single, attended Cornell University

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Name: Veronica
From: Born in Los Angeles, CA; now lives in Oregon
Age: 41
Other: Engaged

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Name: Laurie
From: Born in Baltimore, MD; now lives in San Diego, CA
Age: 23
Other: Single

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Name: Bob
From: Boston
Age: 59
Other: Married to wife, Katie, and has grandchildren

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Name: Donna
From: Nashville, TN
Age: 29
Other: Lives with long-term girlfriend

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Name: Fred
From: Trenton, TN
Age: 21
Other: Single