Survivor legend Colby Donaldson admitted in an exclusive interview with E! News that he almost dropped out of the CBS series’ 50th season, but described his fourth time on the show as the “most fun.”
Colby Donaldson’s attempt to outlast his opponents was almost over before it started. 
Before the three-time Survivor alum joined fellow castaways Cirie Fields, Mike White and Ozzy Lusth for the CBS series’ milestone 50th season In the Hands of the Fans, he explained that he nearly turned the opportunity down.
“It was an immediate yes for me initially,” Colby told E! News in an exclusive interview at the New York City premiere Feb. 24, “and then months later, as we began to approach the departure date, there was part of me that wanted to back out.”
As for why the 51-year-old almost missed out? He said it was due to recent “career shifts” that made it “difficult to take time off to go do this,” which he cited as a hurdle for many contestants.
“It’s a sacrifice people have made for 25 years,” he continued. “There are a lot of people that would be great on the show, but can’t take that much time off work, or can’t be away from their family for responsibility reasons. So, I needed to look at that.”
However, after receiving approval from work, and with the blessing of his wife Britt Bailey, who he said “talked me into going again,” Colby—who previously competed on The Australian Outback (season two), All-Stars (season eight) and Heroes vs. Villains (season 20)—leaned into the experience.
“That was the best decision I made,” he shared. “This is the most fun I’ve ever had playing the game.”
But while Colby enjoyed his time as a castaway on the islands of Fiji—which can be seen on season 50, premiering Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS—he knew that he “wasn’t going to be as dominant” as he was when he first competed 25 years ago. So, he adapted his style of play.
“For me, it was more important to pedal fast and catch up with the new era of play and how different it is now versus the last time I played,” he explained. “I knew it was going to be important for me to find someone in the younger generation to connect with that could help me along and guide me through the rules of play and how things are so vastly different now.”
And Colby made sure to embrace the future of Survivor rather than relish too much in the past.
“Instead of being one of these grumpy old schoolers that wants to get rid of all the new era guys or gals, I wanted to find the ones I could connect with and play with,” he said. “And that ended up being a very fun part of the game for me.”
Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans premieres Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Of course, Colby isn’t the only Survivor legend returning for season 50. Read on to see who else is part of the milestone season’s cast.
