Survivor host Jeff Probst has admitted that he and 24-year-old Survivor: Vanuatu contestant Julie Berry, who had previously been accepted into the Peace Corps, are seriously dating



Survivor host Jeff Probst has admitted that he and 24-year-old Survivor: Vanuatu contestant Julie Berry, who had previously been accepted into the Peace Corps, are seriously dating

'Survivor' host Jeff Probst dating 'Vanuatu' castaway Julie Berry

By Steve Rogers, 12/17/2004

Confirming rumors that having been circulating for several months. Survivor host Jeff Probst has admitted that he and 24-year-old Survivor: Vanuatu contestant Julie Berry are seriously dating. "I'm in love. I'm with her. I'm with her family, and there ain't no turning back," the 43-year-old Probst told People magazine this week.

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Rumors that the couple were dating emerged earlier this fall, and strengthened after the broadcast of a Survivor: Vanuatu episode in which Julie was shown attending a challenge while wearing a hand painted tattoo of a heart with the word "Jeff" in it.

Julie had denied the rumors of a relationship as recently as last Friday. "That was just harmless fun on the show. There's no truth to that rumor," she told her local Portland Press Herald during a telephone interview that followed last Thursday's broadcast of the episode in which she was voted out of the game.

Less than a week later -- but after Survivor: Vanuatu's Sunday finale had aired -- Jeff finally came clean. "Nobody is more surprised than me that I could find my love affair on a show that I host," he told People. "But the truth is when something like this gets dropped in your lap, you don't look at how it's wrapped, you don't look at how it's being delivered. You just put your arms around it and you hold on because this is my love affair and there's no question in my mind about it."

According to Jeff, the couple's relationship didn't begin until after Vanuatu finished filming in August. "The funny thing was there was this perception we were flirting on the show," he told People, "and that was actually just fun stuff on the show. I didn't really talk to Julie until long after the show was over."

Sometime after the show had ended, Jeff emailed Julie "just to say hello." From there, things quickly took off. "Once we started spending some time together, I didn't have any doubt. I didn't have any doubt and all the questions about how you meet and any potential obstacles, they fade away like an old dry leaf."

"I'm in love. I'm with her. I'm with her family, and there ain't no turning back. When you find it, you know and now I get it," Jeff gushed to the magazine. "The funniest thing is people used to always say, 'you'll know,' and I'd think, 'Oh, shut it! Let me tell ya, I've been around long enough, I don't know.' And then suddenly one day, I knew. Now I am one of those irritating people that is now saying, 'you'll know.'"

Julie is moving to California to pursue her master's degree in family counseling and be closer to Jeff. Jeff resides in Los Angeles when not halfway around the world filming Survivor competitions.

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

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December 18, 2004: This Week's Top Stories RPCV remembers Deborah Gardner's murder in Tonga 17 Dec Maoist insurgents in Nepal release Swiss aid worker 17 Dec RPCV Alison Williams exhibits portraits of Malian people 16 Dec Former Brazil Medical Director convicted of drug charges 16 Dec RPCV Joseph Opala researched slave trade in RI 15 Dec Vasquez sees resurgent interest in PC 14 Dec Senator who wanted duel with RPCV joins Fox 14 Dec NPCA planning National Day of Action for PC funding 13 Dec RPCV "Harry" Chandler votes in Electoral College 13 Dec Critic says Moyers delivered neo-Marxist propaganda 13 Dec Micronesia RPCV Walter Cavanagh has 1,496 credit cards 13 Dec PC "Survivor" Julie Berry headed for California 11 Dec more top stories...

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Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

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