Australian Survivor star and 'cockroach from Bankstown' George Mladenov sets his sights on politics

After wriggling his way through to the Australian Survivor: Brains vs Brawn finale, ‘King George’ Mladenov now has his sights set on state politics.

The self-confessed ‘cockroach from Bankstown’ has had an infamous run on the Channel 10 reality show by employing coercion, lies and backstabbing – traits that are ideal in the cut-throat world of politics.

‘We should wait and see. I wouldn’t rule anything out,’ the Labor Party spin doctor said in an interview The Sunday Telegraph.   

King George in Parliament? Australian Survivor star and self-proclaimed ‘cockroach from Bankstown’ George Mladenov is considering a serious run at state politics

‘Maybe you will have “King George” in parliament one day? I don’t want to spook people by saying I will be running for preselection soon, so we will wait and see,’ he added.

‘I would definitely consider it. Never say never. I’ll quote John Howard on that.’

George has faced a mixed response from fans of the show, ranging from sympathy to admiration to unbearable frustration.

‘I would definitely consider it. Never say never’: The Labor Party spin doctor, 31, has his sights set on state politics after making it to the Australian Survivor finale

His self-focused attitude has proven to be a major feature so far this season. 

Early on, he won sympathy after bursting into tears when mother-of-three Cara Atchison used her hidden immunity idol to save him from elimination. 

He then earned respect for the unapologetic way he played the game – including betraying the Brawn team and publicly ridiculing fellow contestant Emmett Pugh. 

But then there’s been moments when George has faced intense backlash by choosing not to compete in challenges.

In it for himself: George has faced a mixed response from fans of the show, ranging from sympathy to admiration to unbearable frustration. At one point he betrayed the Brawn team and publicly ridiculed fellow contestant Emmett Pugh (left)

Last week fans were in uproar after the political operative threw in the towel halfway through both Monday and Tuesday’s immunity challenges.

George refused to take part in the above-water obstacle course due to the height of the platform.

He then quit Tuesday’s puzzle challenge, where the contestants had to create a long device out of sticks to unhook a key.

‘I am very proud of who I am, what I believe in and where I am from. I don’t care if I am hated. I’d prefer to be respected rather than pandering to the crowd,’ he said.

Not impressed: Last week fans were in uproar after the political operative threw in the towel halfway through both Monday and Tuesday’s immunity challenges

‘I’d prefer to be respected rather than pandering to the crowd’: George infamously quit last Monday’s above-water obstacle course and Tuesday’s puzzle challenge