Original subtitles

(ETHEREAL MUSIC)

(DISTANT CROWD CHEERING)

BEN FORDHAM: These obstacles have created legends.

REBECCA MADDERN: Charlie Robbins, you are unbelievable!

BEN: But after three extraordinary series,

the holy grail, Mount Midoriyama, remains unconquered.

In 2020, it's time to climb the mountain.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Yes!

FREDDIE FLINTOFF: Look at him, flying through the air!

MAN: Mount Midoriyama... WOMAN: We are coming for you.

Oh, my goodness me!

That's what I'm talking about!

This lad isn't one of my favourites.

He is my favourite.

BEN: The heroes return once again to finish what they started.

MAN: I've come for that redemption.

Oh! Oh, he's made the leap!

Watch out, buzzer, you're going to get hit.

BEN: But a new crop of everyday Australians

are gunning for the title.

WOMAN: I'm going to be Australia's first female ninja warrior.

MAN: I've set a world record at Mount Everest base camp.

I'm originally from Ireland and you probably won't understand me.

You'll have to subtitle most of this.

Maybe I could channel the rat vibes when I'm on the course.

FREDDIE: Man or monkey?

He does know we're filming this, doesn't he?

BEN: And for the first time ever, it's ninja versus ninja...

..facing off on the all new Power Tower...

That is massive.

FREDDIE: Only two can compete against each other.

..for a game-changing advantage.

REBECCA: We've never seen anything like this before.

BEN: And it all leads to this.

Climb Mount Midoriyama

and they could take home a massive $400,000 jackpot.

I'm gonna hit that buzzer.

BEN: In our new Melbourne home...

Welcome to Melbourne, the sporting capital of Australia.

Whoo-hoo!

..Shane Crawford joins the all-star commentary team.

That is incredible!

I can't believe what I'm seeing! He's a grandad, this lad.

BEN: Tougher...

REBECCA: He's off!

He's in the water. He's gone.

Oh! You little ripper!

BEN: faster...

Oh, look at that! Oh!

Talk about fast.

Look at this guy fly!

She's got one eye on the Power Tower.

BEN: more powerful!

REBECCA: This is a woman on a mission.

Unbelievable!

BEN: Legends will be made, destinies will be fulfilled...

..in the quest to be the first Australian Ninja Warrior.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: Welcome to Melbourne, the sporting capital of Australia

and an all-new season of Australian Ninja Warrior,

and welcome to my co-host tonight, Shane Crawford. How are you, mate?

Ben, this is awesome. Can't wait to be a part of it

and really looking forward to meeting our 2020 crop of ninjas.

BEN: We appreciate you coming off the bench tonight, Crawf.

Bec can't be with us just yet.

She'll be back on board very soon.

As you can see, we've got a great crowd in

for the first heat of season four

and they are going to be making plenty of noise.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Mate, you've had a look at the course.

What do you reckon?

It's unbelievable. It really, really is.

It's huge. I've only seen the course on TV before.

But up close, it's amazing.

BEN: Yeah, these season four obstacles are phenomenal.

Some never seen before.

Now, we know that Mount Midoriyama towers above the course.

It's the ultimate goal of every ninja.

But standing in their way is an exciting brand-new challenge

and that is the Power Tower.

Freddie Flintoff has had a look at it.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

FREDDIE: Ben, Crawf, how good is this?

The Power Tower is new for this series

and it is unbelievable.

It stands four stories high

and is going to be the toughest of tests for even our best ninjas,

and for the first time on Australian Ninja Warrior,

our two fastest ninjas tonight will go head-to-head.

Now, that's not just for bragging rights.

In this ninja showdown, the fastest on the Power Tower

will take a crucial advantage into the semifinal.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: That advantage could make all the difference

because this season's grand final winner

will walk away with $100,000. That's guaranteed.

And that's just for starters.

If a ninja can conquer Mount Midoriyama,

something no one's been able to do in three seasons,

they'll be crowned Australia's first ninja warrior

and win a carryover prize of $400,000.

That's what's up for grabs. But to get to the Power Tower,

our ninjas are going to have to absolutely smoke this course

and there are plenty of traps on it.

Let's have a look at what they've got to face.

SHANE: Six of the toughest obstacles in the world

stand between our ninjas and the semifinals.

First, the Quintuple Steps.

Each 1.5 metres apart to cross without touching the water.

BEN: Next is the first of two new obstacles,

the Tic Toc to Net.

Ninjas will use the mini-tramp

to bounce onto the Tic Toc pendulum

then leap onto the cargo net and hopefully climb to safety.

Obstacle three, an old favourite.

The Bridge of Blades.

Four large blades on a central axis to get past,

each spinning as soon as any weight is placed on it.

The Doorknob Drop is our second new obstacle and it's a nightmare.

On the first door,

ninjas must use their grip and upper body strength

to move across eight small red doorknobs,

the last four, on an incline.

The door then drops over a metre,

forcing ninjas to support their entire body weight

as they make the treacherous transition onto the second door

where they'll have to do it all over again.

The penultimate obstacle

is the Double Squirrel.

A familiar sight in the semis

but this year, we're doing it in the heats.

Starting from a fixed bar,

ninjas must swing and lache across two squirrels,

the final lache is bigger than ever; 3.6 metres.

SHANE: The iconic Warped Wall

is the sixth and final obstacle in the heats.

Ninjas have three attempts

to overcome the 4.25 m curved wall and hit the buzzer on top.

(HORN SOUNDS)

Tonight is the first of the four heats

with only the top 16 from each heat making it through to two semifinals.

BEN: Following the semis,

our grand finalists will then take their shot

at Mount Midoriyama and that incredible $400,000 prize.

Let's not keep our ninjas waiting any longer.

I'm not waiting any longer either.

It's time for our first ninja for 2020.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

My name is Skye Haddy and I am from Gold Coast, Australia.

It's such a beautiful place to live.

It's just great to get outdoors as much as you can.

Sometimes people may underestimate me and I love to prove them wrong.

I told the careers advisor at school

that I wanted to run away with the circus.

They said it'd never happen.

So, that's exactly what I did.

(DRAMATIC CLASSICAL MUSIC)

I ended up performing overseas

in a touring circus, touring all around Asia.

It was super, super cool.

Performing in the circus

really taught me how far I can actually push my body

and I know I've got everything I need to conquer the course.

Tonight, I want to surprise everyone.

I want to show everyone what I can do.

I would absolutely love to be the first up Mount Midoriyama.

That would be the absolute ultimate dream.

On the start line is Skye Haddy.

28-year-old from Queensland.

Ex-gymnast, ex-cheerleader

and also circus act.

You've got to think she's well equipped for this.

SHANE: And there's Skye's family.

Mum, dad, fiance Michael, and sister, Jade,

who will be on the course later.

BEN: Yeah, right now though it's time for Skye.

Season four's underway.

She launches herself at the first obstacle, the Quintuple Steps.

She's got five steps, 1.5 metres apart

and she's almost through obstacle number one!

SHANE: And here's the first of our new obstacles,

the Tic Toc to Net.

She's got to use that tramp to get onto the swinging pendulum

and then time her jump onto the cargo net.

Aim high!

Aim high is the call from the sidelines.

BEN: It all hinges on hitting that tramp perfectly.

Here she goes.

FREDDIE: Bounces.

Oh, good save!

There's the acrobat flying through the air.

Using that upper body strength. Just watch those feet in the water.

Any part touches and it's a disqualification.

But she's through now.

About to take on the Bridge of Blades.

Go, go, go!

Use your hands! Good effort.

SHANE: Three obstacles down already.

What a start for the first run for 2020.

BEN: Yeah, Crawf, Skye is 49 kg

and that might help her here on the Doorknob Drop.

There are 16 knobs to get across.

It's all about upper body and grip strength.

How's she going to go?

FREDDIE: Not much body weight.

Strong power to weight ratio.

She's got to keep grabbing those red knobs

from one to the next.

SHANE: Oh!

BEN: Oh, she's handling it so far but she slipped down a knob.

She needs to get to the two top knobs.

And then those knobs...

SHANE: Come on, Skye! Reach! BEN: It'll drag down the door.

Hang on, Skye!

Yes, she does!

This is going to be crucial now.

The turn.

You've got to twist the body around

and be able to nail it with one grab.

If you can't oh, she's done it!

BEN: Can she do the transfer though?

BEN: Yes! SHANE: Well done, Skye!

BEN: Skye Haddy!

She exhales and I don't think she can quite believe it.

Oh!

Can you believe it? She hits the water.

But that was a phenomenal effort.

Skye Haddy had something special.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Here, Skye, get yourself a towel.

How was that obstacle? That is so tough.

Oh, yeah, it's definitely tough.

I did not expect those doorknobs to be so hard to hold onto.

Just slipped off that last one

but I definitely gave it everything I had.

And was the advice from the sidelines helping?

Because there were some noises coming out of your family

I've never heard in my life before. (LAUGHS)

To be honest, I think when I'm on the course,

I'm so in zone.

Like, I can hear noise

but I'm just, like, focused in my own head is what I'm doing.

So, yeah, I heard some, "Don't give up"

and that kind of stuck with me

and that was the best advice I got, I think.

OK. Well, it's a great effort. Cheers, Skye.

You go get yourself dry. Thanks very much.

BEN: Good stuff, Freddie.

Well done, Skye.

Big start to season four

but keep in mind the strongest challengers

are still to come

and this is the toughest course we've ever seen.

SHANE: Our next ninja is a young man

used to overcoming challenges in life

including autism spectrum disorder.

As a newcomer last year, he waltzed his way into the semifinals

and into everybody's heart.

It's Max Closter. Come on, Max.

Hey, everyone! It's Max Closter again.

I'm all pumped up ready to go

for season four Australian Ninja Warrior.

Let's go!

Last year was amazing.

Like, I was just like a nervous 18-year-old kid.

Go for it!

Go big!

Whoa! Easy! Easy.

I not only overcame the confidence with the course...

BEN: This kid's got confidence.

..I overcame the confidence

with talking in front of, like, the whole of Australia.

Back before grade four, I never used to talk at all

because it was that hard for me to pronounce things.

WOMAN: He's had a lot of struggles with OCD

and autism spectrum disorder.

He did nine years of speech therapy

and we used to worry 'cause Max would never talk.

Now, we have to tell Max to shut up 'cause all he does is talk.

Everything's all technique. That's it.

MELISSA: But he's grown into a beautiful young man,

a very social young man.

(LAUGHTER)

Where I'm at right now

and looking back how I was, it's just unbelievable.

FREDDIE: Returning semifinalist

from season three,

Max Closter from Melbourne.

He says he's grown in confidence

since last year.

He's been training harder

and he's hoping to go one further this time.

Not the semifinals, he wants the finals.

But there's so much in his way between now and then.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: And there's Max's mum, Mel, and dad, Les,

hoping for big things tonight.

You've got this, Max!

BEN: 19 years of age.

Max Closter, here he goes on the first obstacle

and so far, so good.

SHANE: Slow down. BEN: Now he's just got to...

Oh, no! Oh, what?

Max! He's gone!

Oh, my goodness!

Max Closter, one of the stars of last year's Ninja Warrior

is out on the very first obstacle.

SHANE: This is heartbreaking.

He was so focused, he wanted to go all the way.

But one simple mistake and he's out.

You're alright, mate!

BEN: And there's some shocked faces in the crowd.

Nobody expected that, Freddie.

Max, there's a towel.

Come here. Do I have to ask how gutted you are?

I'm really, really devastated how much work I've put into this

and just things got into my head

and I was trying to keep things straight and I just was shaking

and I just needed to get past that first obstacle

and just got things in my head and I just...

Yeah, I just fell off.

But just try to keep positive.

Awesome to have this second chance

and yeah, I'm just bummed out

that I didn't get the chance to go all the way through and yeah.

I don't think we've seen the last of you, have we?

Well... (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

I will rise back up.

I tell you that. I will rise and never give up till I'm done.

Until everything's finished.

Mate, nobody's going to buck against that.

Your family and friends are waiting round there.

Great to see you. Unlucky tonight, mate.

SHANE: Unlucky, Max.

But he'll be back stronger than ever.

It just goes to show you,

one mistake on this course and it's all over for 2020.

BEN: Let's just hope our next ninja takes that lesson on board.

Righto. Get ready for some grunt on course now.

One of our heaviest ninjas.

105 kg of pure power.

You're going to love this man mountain.

SHANE: Thought you were talking about me.

No, mate. Watch this.

This bloke is fuelled exclusively on a plant-based diet

and I would hate to be a plant when this ninja gets hungry.

Give it up for Jacob Hohua.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Have a look at him.

Yo! What is happening, Ninja Warrior.

It is your boy, Jacob Hohua, the plant-based gorilla.

I decided to give up meat when I was competing in strong man.

Alright. What we have here

is basically what I would consume in a week.

Becoming plant based definitely has changed my life.

I feel like I have more energy.

I feel more in tune with myself and I just feel overall happier.

This meal right here is just under 1,000 calories.

I can eat anywhere from five to 7,000 calories a day.

Lots of fruit, lots of veggies,

beans, lentils, quinoa, rice, pasta.

(GRUNTS)

Eight.

Nine.

JACOB: People definitely judge me when they see me.

You know, with the tattoos and the beard

and I think I get a bit of that sort of bikie stigma

but I'm definitely not like that. You know, I'm a big teddy bear.

I'm here with my beautiful fiancee, Bev,

and our little baby in the oven.

We've got a little baby girl on the way.

I just want to set a good example for her

and, you know, know that she can do whatever she wants, you know,

and achieve anything.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Wow! Jacob Hohua.

Look at you, son.

Geez!

You don't even eat meat.

How'd you do it?

Broccoli, bro. Broccoli?

(LAUGHS)

You'd be eating a forest.

Maybe that.

Seriously, this lad.

Plant-based diet.

Jacob, have you seen the screen over there?

There's somebody who wants to watch you.

She can see you. Give her a wave.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: That's Jacob's fiancee, Bev, via video link from the Gold Coast.

Let's hope Bev doesn't put him off.

Now, I can't focus on the course.

Not quite what I thought he was going to be, this lad.

A bit of a gentle giant, isn't he?

They say you can't judge a book by its cover.

(STARTING TONE)

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

FREDDIE: Jacob Hohua onto the course.

BEN: With all 105 kg thumping into these pads.

And the first obstacle's done.

Now, this is going to be interesting here, Crawf,

because this is a big jump for a big man.

SHANE: Yes, and it's all about momentum

and you want to have that swing

and you've got to gear around the front of it very, very quickly,

so he's assessing and he's going.

Come on, Jacob. Don't fall P

oh, I thought he was going to go then.

Just leaning back a little bit.

He'll have the weight to get that going.

Big jump off.

Hanging on for dear life.

Just glances at the missus on the big screen

as he gets under the cargo net.

Needs to pull himself underneath.

There we go. Pull yourself up, Jacob.

Safely through.

BEN: Jacob Hohua makes it past obstacle two.

Next, the Bridge of Blades.

SHANE: Now, this is going to be very, very difficult

because you've got to have real balance,

you've got to be light on your feet and 105 kg, that's going to move.

FREDDIE: Every obstacle for the heavy lads

is that little bit trickier.

I tell you what, he's going to take some stopping if he gets going.

Go, Jacob.

BEN: Are they going to move too quickly on him? Oh!

SHANE: Well done, Jacob!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

FREDDIE: Just taking his time a little bit.

SHANE: He's OK. Now, this is going to be the real test.

Did you see it all just shudder?

Just gathering his breath.

Just taking his time. Picks a towel up, wipes his hands.

Come on, babe. You can do it.

FREDDIE: Don't want sweaty mitts on this.

BEN: He's having another look at the Doorknob Drop.

Jacob Hohua

is up that pole and reaching out to the first door.

Can he hold all 105 kg?

He's got to now go up.

He's got to go up that door.

This is going to be hard.

You can see already it's a lot of weight to be carrying.

FREDDIE: This is where he'll start burning,

this is where he'll start hurting.

One more to grab and then it's going to come down.

He's going to feel the full weight of his 100 kg.

It comes down. Look at him. He's so strong.

BEN: But can he make the transfer?

Can he turn and twist and do it all again, Crawf?

This is our heaviest ninja.

Oh! Oh!

And right then our heaviest ninja cops an early splash.

What an effort from Jacob Hohua.

But this obstacle is already proving a big, big challenge

for both the biggest and smallest ninjas.

Jacob, you was bit worried on the start line

putting Bev on the screen might've put you off.

Yeah, man. Nearly made me cry. Big baby. It's good to see her.

We've got a little baby on the way, so yeah,

just got a little bit emotional but I was really happy with that.

On the doorknobs, did you think that was going to be a problem

with the weight and size of you?

Yeah, definitely. When it dropped down,

I didn't even have my grip properly.

So, that sort of threw me off a bit.

That's all good. These things happen.

Mate, it's great to have you on the show.

Awesome. I'm sure your missus there

wants to say hello to you

and good luck with the little one coming.

Great to meet you, mate. Cheers. Thanks, bro.

Top, man.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: Great effort from Jacob Hohua

but will it be enough to make the top 16

and qualify for the semifinals?

We'll find out later.

You're watching a brand-new season of Australian Ninja Warrior.

There's more to come right after this.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Tonight, for the first time ever,

it's ninja versus ninja on the Power Tower.

Who will rise to the challenge?

Ironman, Matt Bevilacqua...

Two-time grand finalist, Josh O'Sullivan...

SHANE: Miracle mum, Tash Sergi,

Rock 'n' roller, Jess Daly...

The Barefoot Ninja, Dan Mason...

'Flashlin' Ashlin Herbert or...

(RECORD NEEDLE SCRATCHES)

..Monkey dad, Steve Taylor-Madin?

SHANE: Season four of Australian Ninja Warrior

is underway with 160 ninjas battling their way through four heats.

BEN: We're talking about the strongest, fittest,

most agile everyday people

taking on the most impossible obstacle course in the world

and waiting for the fastest two at the end of each night,

the brand-new Power Tower.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Next on the course, a Gold Coast legend of ironman

who's been racking up wins since the age of 16.

Matt Bevilacqua.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

MATT: I love a challenge

and I think that's why I've achieved so much in my career.

I love attempting it with everything I've got.

COMMENTATOR: Big performance from Bevilacqua.

And he paddled away from the best field we've seen

in a long, long time.

I'm an Ironman champion.

Five time world paddleboard champion, world record holder.

COMMENTATOR: Matt Bevilacqua will take out round five

of the Nutri-Grain Ironman series.

MATT: Being a sponsored athlete is an amazing privilege

and I get paid to go around the world

and attempt these crazy challenges,

from being towed into a wave with a helicopter

or paddling into Australia's heaviest wave.

Look, like any massive challenge, it's never smooth sailing.

You have to just get back on the horse and have another crack.

Ninja Warrior's just the next challenge.

I love conquering these things and I love testing myself.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

FREDDIE: At the start line, a lad we are expecting big things from.

An Ironman, a proper athlete.

It's Matt Bevilacqua.

Competed in Ironman since he was 16,

won numerous championships.

You've got to think this lad's got a chance

of getting to the top of the warped wall.

Go, Matt!

SHANE: And that's girlfriend, Brielle, on the sideline.

A champion ironwoman in her own right.

(STARTING TONE) BEN: OK, Matt Bevilacqua.

He's on the course and a cautious start.

SHANE: He's tall at 181 cm,

so he's got the reach

and he's made it through the steps.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

FREDDIE: Matt's used to being in the water.

Won't want that tonight.

Just checking out the trampoline.

BEN: That costs you a bit of time but he wants to make sure of it.

Grabs a hold of that Tic Toc as it's known

and well, he's not going to be able to move around too quickly.

SHANE: You've got to go quick, you've got to go quick.

BEN: I don't know. He's going to be chewing up too much time.

Oh, he just hangs on!

SHANE: He is an ironman. He's just taken it on.

It's not about technique, it's just about courage and effort.

BEN: Well, we know he's got plenty of that, Crawf,

as he makes his way across this net.

Get that foot out of there, Matt.

SHANE: The Bridge of Blades.

If he can get through to the Bridge of Blades.

Get that foot out. Oh, hang on a moment.

"Hang on, I'm hooked!"

Matt Bevilacqua losing precious seconds on the cargo net.

He's through now and the Bridge of Blades,

here he goes, straight through!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Next up, the Doorknob Drop.

SHANE: So far, nobody has made it past this.

Can the Ironman be the first?

FREDDIE: Just tying his shoelaces.

Good idea, safety first.

AUDIENCE (CHANTING): Lets go, Matty! Let's go!

Not a small lad, Matt,

and he'll have to lug that big body of his knob to knob.

Got all the credentials to do well on Australian Ninja Warrior.

But it's putting them all together at the right time is what counts.

BEN: He doesn't look entirely comfortable.

He's struggling to find the right grip by the looks of things.

He might be in a bit of strife here, our ironman.

Oh, he is!

SHANE: Well, he does like the water.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) BEN: Matt Bevilacqua.

Another victim on the Doorknob Drop.

This thing's becoming a ninja killer.

Matt just wasn't sure of the best way to get onto the knobs.

Now, the most effective way is to use the flexible pole

and use the long reach to get the second or the third knob.

Instead, he grabbed the first one with his right hand

and that forced him to cross arms with his left

and that turned him around the wrong way and sent him down.

SHANE: Great effort from Matt but it goes to show you

how tough this course is in season four.

We've taken it to a whole new level.

BEN: Next, time to welcome back one of our favourite returning ninjas

who's inspired us all with her fighting spirit.

She never gives up and if she needed any extra strength tonight,

for the first time ever, her two beautiful children are here

to watch her live.

Please welcome Tash Sergi.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

TASH: My whole life I've tackled adversity.

I had ovarian cancer when I was 17.

I lost my ovary and fallopian tube and I had chemotherapy.

But I've been clear from cancer for 15 years now.

Since then I've been living a happy, healthy life.

I have two beautiful boys, I recently got engaged as well.

But I find out couple of weeks ago that I've got skin cancer.

Um...

Um... Sorry.

It's a squamous cell carcinoma

which can be quite deadly if it spreads.

To hear that word again is...

I never thought I would.

I'm currently in the process of getting treated.

I feel positive about it, you know?

It's just another obstacle.

Tonight, when I run the course, I am doing this for my family.

We're playing hide and seek.

Found you!

(LAUGHS)

What are you doing?

It is the first year that my kids are going to be on the sideline.

With that extra support,

I know I can show Australia what I am truly capable of.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

FREDDIE: This here's the miracle mum, Tash Sergi.

Go, mummy!

Family, kids in the audience for the first time.

Got to the semi-final season two

but was disqualified.

Now, she'd love to go further tonight,

get to the top of that warped wall

and press the buzzer for the first time ever.

She's never pressed the buzzer.

As she enters the course, starts on the Quintuple Steps.

Just bouncing from one to the next.

Everybody cheering on this amazing lady

as she comes through the Quintuple Steps nice and safe.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: It means so much to Tash to have her two boys here tonight

and getting bits of advice on the sideline.

Tic Toc to Net next.

SHANE: Big bounce, get around the front

and then onto the net.

Beautiful jump!

She quickly gets around,

she's got to go for it right this one.

Go for it, launch and away you go!

She's done it! Get a hold of it, Tash! Yes!

Oh, this is fantastic. Look at her kids.

They are absolutely pumped for Mum.

Come on, Tash, get yourself up.

A bit caught in the net

but she'll get herself through and over to the side.

Drop those legs down and you're there!

Well done, Tash!

BEN: Good on you, Tash. One of her boys, Jackson,

has started doing some ninja training as well.

So, he's watching on at the moment thinking,

"Well, this might be me in ten or twelve years from now."

But at the moment, it's about the Bridge of Blades.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) SHANE: Crowd's getting into it.

Here she goes. Beautifully done!

Light on her feet.

She will not take no for an answer. Don't you worry about that.

FREDDIE: Now, she's been on the show before

but this is an obstacle she would never have seen before.

The Doorknob Drop.

One of the toughest obstacles we've ever seen

in Australian Ninja Warrior in the heats.

She now grabs the pole.

Just needs to pull herself up

and then grab the first of the big red knobs.

Onto the first one.

This is such a tough obstacle.

All our ninjas tonight referencing this one...

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

..saying it just catches up with you.

Burns the arms, burns the fingers.

BEN: Look at the upper body strength.

SHANE: She's just working her way to the top so quickly.

It comes down! Hang on.

Twist that body round. It's really tough here

'cause it's at least a metre and a half to reach around.

She's done it beautifully.

BEN: Look at the momentum she got going with the feet there

to really push herself along.

'Cause she doesn't have the big wingspan that other ninjas have,

and now, she's got to go up that hill again, Crawf.

SHANE: Come on, Tash!

BEN: She's burning a bit, I think.

SHANE: She is. This is where they all start to burn

but look at that determination.

You can see P Oh!

Bad luck, Tash. But that was just incredible.

What an effort.

Her kids will be so proud.

She should be so proud of herself. What an awesome effort.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Tash. This obstacle looks so, so hard.

I think we've got it on a replay just behind us.

If you want to talk us, what's going through your head at this point?

Look at the reach.

Like, that's a huge move to go up and in that position.

Yeah.

I don't know. I just...

That side felt good

and by the time I got to the other side,

I was just feeling the pump and couldn't quite make that reach.

'Cause you talk mental strength

as just as important as physical strength.

But that tested everything.

Oh, yeah. Mentally, this is the best I've felt.

So, I'm glad I didn't go out from a mental error.

That was physical error.

I'm pumped, man.

No, it's great to see. The family are waiting round there.

I'm sure you want to go round there and see them.

Tash, always good to see you. We'll see you again, I'm sure.

Thank you. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: And there's Tash with her boys.

They'll be so proud of their mum.

Even if she's wet.

I think you'll all join me in wishing Tash

all the best with her health in the future

and we will be back after the break.

SHANE: Next, he represented Team Australia around the world.

Josh O'Sullivan ready to dominate.

She's back on a mission in season four.

WOMAN: Tonight, I want to be the fastest female.

I'm going to go for it.

SHANE: Cian Maciejewski.

And Ninja Warrior's first dungeon master,

Melbourne's Jake Baker.

JAKE: A dungeon master is a storyteller.

For our weekly Dungeons and Dragons game.

Waiters! Waiters!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: Welcome back to Ninja Warrior

where our ninjas are striving for a top 16 placing

and with it a ticket to the semifinals.

Tonight, two fastest ninjas will go head-to-head on the Power Tower

with a crucial time advantage going to the winner.

SHANE: During the break,

three more ninjas rose to the challenge.

Rock 'n' roll dancer, Jess Daly, made a big entrance.

BEN: Oh, look at this, Crawf.

Is it these ones? Is this what we do when it's rock 'n' roll time?

Bring it on, baby.

SHANE: But when it came to the Tic Toc,

she rocked a little too hard.

BEN: Oh, no!

Then two-time grand finalist,

Ryan Solomon, started his campaign...

Now, he makes the reach and the transition is almost...

..complete! Oh!

But he's gone!

..followed by 23-year-old

costume and role-play fan,

Sophie Newcomb.

SHANE: How on earth is she going to get back on top

and then onto the net?

BEN: She's got to find a way back onto the Tic Toc, Crawf.

Oh, no! Oh, hang on!

This is going to be...

She's hanging on for life and it is over!

OK. Up now, an aviation firefighter with a smoking hot ninja resume.

A two-time grand finalist

who finished last year in the top five.

He's one of the best.

Josh O'Sullivan.

JOSH: This year, I am learning all the skills

that it takes to become a qualified aviation firefighter.

You've got to stay cool under pressure.

Pretty similar to Ninja Warrior.

I feel like I've changed my whole life around Ninja.

I've been training really hard, I've stepped it up.

I'm in the zone, I'm peaking. I'm ready to go.

Last year, I was one of the final five

and then I was in Team Australia in 'USA vs The World'.

AKBAR GBAJABIAMILA: Great body control.

He's all-around athlete.

JOSH: I've proven that I can stick it out with the big boys,

so I feel like I'm in with a big chance again this year,

and I'm ready to set this course alight.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Another returning favourite to Australian Ninja Warrior.

He's been with us all four series

and yet to fail an obstacle

in the heats.

This lad is one to watch.

He'd have visualised this course so many times,

visualised himself at the top of the warped wall

pressing the buzzer. (STARTING TONE)

I think he's going to go for speed.

I think he wants to go on the Power Tower.

BEN: He's never fallen in a heat or in the semifinals.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Can you believe it?

Don't do it tonight, Josh.

SHANE: He looks like he's ready for this course.

Knows exactly what he's doing.

Gives it a good swing here.

He's going to launch into that net.

Beautifully done, in full control.

BEN: Yeah, it's early days, Crawf,

but you can already see Josh means business.

FREDDIE: How he would love to make it another time in the grand finals

and go one further.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

As he comes to the Bridge of Blades, safely through.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: Barely touches those blades.

Now, the Doorknob Drop

which has been a troublemaker for a lot of our ninjas.

SHANE: Can Josh O'Sullivan be the first to beat this obstacle?

BEN: All hands and arms and upper body strength

and you've got to go up that hill on the first door.

Then get to the final two knobs where the door drops down

and then the transition onto the second door,

and if you think it's all over, you've got to ascend once again!

SHANE: Oh, he's off! BEN: Oh, no!

Oh, what was happening there?

That's a big shock.

One of the favourites is gone

and one of the keys to beating the doorknobs

is to rhythmically rock from left to right

to reach from one to the other.

But he seemed to lunge to reach each one

and that put more pressure on the arms, increased fatigue

and it caught up with him.

So, down he goes.

Josh, big surprise.

I don't think anybody saw that coming.

Yeah, a bit shocked to get out there.

Hopefully, it's enough to get through. We'll see what happens.

That's the first time you've failed in one of the heats on any obstacle.

Oh, tell me about it.

Yeah, it's not a nice feeling, definitely, falling in the heats.

Could be the end of me this season. We'll see what happens.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

It'll be an anxious wait but fingers crossed you get through.

Cheers, pal.

BEN: The Doorknob Drop has no respect for reputations.

Josh is a two-time grand finalist

but in season four, he's in danger of missing out on the top 16.

There's a chance he won't qualify for the semis.

SHANE: This course is so tough tonight.

Let's see how our next ninja tackles it, Ben.

JAKE: My name's Jake Baker

and I'm a dungeon master from Melbourne.

OK, who's up next?

(WITH CHARACTER VOICE) Good day, sir.

Might you be the army?

Have you come to help?

A dungeon master is the storyteller

for our weekly Dungeons and Dragons game.

If any harm should come to my goods, it shall be detracted from your pay.

The dungeon master controls where you are,

what happens, the monsters,

the scenery, all of it comes together to try and make for the best gaming.

Waiters! Waiters!

I've always been big into, you know, fantasy genre,

'Lord of the Rings' type stuff.

I've always found it really cool.

Oh, no.

No harm must come to me.

Sardinius is not to be touched.

I don't know how many other ninjas are going to be dungeons masters

or rat dads.

So, I've got three rats.

They're good support pets.

When you're done after a long day of training,

you just want to veg out, they'll do the same thing.

I think rats get a really bad rap.

They're actually really clean animals.

They're extremely stealthy and they're really good at balance.

So, yeah, maybe I could channel the rat vibes when I'm on the course.

Ninja Warrior's an awesome chance to test myself.

It's just this one moment in time

where you can just be the best you can be.

All that preparation just goes into one run on the course.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) FREDDIE: Here he is, Jake Baker.

Big fan of Dungeons and Dragons.

Plays all the time with his little figures.

Looks after his rats.

Alright, where's the rat?

It's over there with Lachie.

FREDDIE: He loves that rat, doesn't he?

Here we go. Anyway. Never mind the rat, Jake.

This is your time to shine on Australian Ninja Warrior.

(STARTING TONE)

BEN: Come on, Jake!

Look at the hop, skip and jump through obstacle number one.

Steps no problem and look at the big bounce.

On the Tic Toc

and now exiting straight onto the net.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

I'll tell you what...

He's off to a red-hot start.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: He's flying through and now for the Bridge of Blades.

BEN: Straight through, left, right, left, right, done.

Three obstacles down in about 30 seconds.

He's putting on a real show, Jake Baker, at pace

but this is a nightmare.

The Doorknob Drop.

FREDDIE: Such a tricky obstacle, this.

Hanging onto them knobs, pulling your body up right to the top,

got to use every one of them and now he drops down

and all the weight goes through your shoulders,

through your fingers,

as you just transfer yourself onto the next of the arms.

You see now, it's just starting to catch up with him a little bit.

It's a fast time.

Just starting to concentrate now.

This is where the lactic acid will be burning in the arms.

The forearms will be killing, the biceps, the shoulders,

the fingers.

Just got to keep moving.

BEN: Has he got enough in the tank, Freddie?

He drops down, hangs on

and for the first time tonight,

we have a ninja through the doorknobs!

SHANE: This is incredible to watch, Ben!

Where has he come from?

BEN: Well, he's come from Melbourne, the 28-year-old,

and he's the first ninja to take a look at the Double Squirrel.

SHANE: He's just got to find one more huge effort with those arms.

Come on, Jake!

BEN: Could Jake be one of our ninjas on the Power Tower tonight?

But first, he's got these monkey bars

and two squirrels sitting in front of him.

The first one's the easy one.

This next one: 3.6 metres, the gap.

Will he land it? Will he stick it?

Come on! I'm with him, I'm with him.

I'm backing him. I think he'll get there.

He's going for it!

He's got it! He's done it beautifully!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: 3.6. Not a problem!

And now for the Warped Wall.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: Yes!

This is world-class.

Jake Baker from Victoria says, "Here I come!"

He's done it!

He gets up the Warped Wall!

(HORN SOUNDS)

BEN: First attempt like a rat up a drainpipe

and he's the first ninja up the Warped Wall in season four.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) SHANE: Oh, wow!

Jake, congratulations, mate.

Thanks, Ben.

How are you feeling?

Actually, pretty gassed.

I was wondering if I was going to make those last laches.

Put your hands together for Jake Baker,

the rat-man of Melbourne.

I think consistent pace was a key to Jake's success.

He was efficient,

he was rhythmic on the doorknobs

and that allowed him to conserve energy

and therefore he's the first ninja to finish the course.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: Smiles all round for the Jake Baker fan club.

His mum, his mates, and of course his favourite rat.

Let's head over to Freddie in the warm-up gym

with last year's arch-rivals

and favourites to go head-to-head on tonight's Power Tower.

Well, I'm stood here with Dan Mason and Ashlin Herbert

and we're going to talk about the Power Tower

'cause I reckon these two lads

are the favourites to be competing against each other tonight.

What do you reckon, Ash?

Oh, yeah. That sounds fun.

(LAUGHS) Let's see if we get there.

If you did head-to-head with Ash, who's winning?

Oh, probably me.

(LAUGHS)

I tell you what, you've grown a pair this series, haven't you?

Come on, talk it up then.

Oh, no, I think we're definitely going to see Ash there

but there's a lot of good competitors

I'm going to have two beat to be facing him.

But yeah, once we get there, who knows?

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) SHANE: Do not go anywhere.

Heat one ninja action coming up right after the break.

Still to come...

Can he make his daughter's dream come true?

I'm going to get all the way and hit that buzzer.

Monkey dad, Steve Taylor-Madin.

BEN: Last season's grand finalist, Zak Stolz,

and his good mate and fellow returnee, Dirt.

The bet is on tonight.

Beat his mates or his head gets shaved.

BEN: Tonight's top two furthest-fastest ninjas

will face off on the all new Power Tower

for a game-changing advantage.

All thanks to Energizer.

(HORN SOUNDS)

Welcome back to heat one of Australian Ninja Warrior 2020

where before the break, Melbourne dungeon master, Jake Baker

completed his quest and became our first ninja up the wall tonight.

He's there! He's done it!

He gets up the Warped Wall. (HORN SOUNDS)

Good on ya!

First attempt, like a rat up a drainpipe.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: Hitting the course now is a two-time semifinalist

who this year is determined to crack a grand final spot.

This is Cian Maciejewski.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

CIAN: Getting married this year; the best day of my life.

We just wanted a real little gathering of family and friends

to be part of the love that we share.

Very special.

I'll always remember it

and we are starting a little family of our own.

We are on a waiting list for IVF.

It is very expensive.

So, to make it up Mount Midoriyama

and get the 400,000 grand would be beautiful.

Tonight, I want to be the fastest female.

I want to even beat some of the lads and be there in the top five.

I'm going to go for it.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

FREDDIE: Cian Maciejewski, a strength and conditioning coach

from New South Wales.

She's been on the Ninja Warrior course before.

She absolutely loves it.

BEN: Yeah, she does, Freddie.

Recently married to Tiana.

There she is on the sideline.

She's got a lot of support here tonight.

I think she's what you Aussies say, pumped.

(STARTING TONE)

BEN: Pumped is the word, Freddie.

Here she goes. Cian Maciejewski.

Her third crack at the Ninja Warrior course.

You know, she's yet to hit the button and she wants to change that tonight.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

FREDDIE: Now, just blitzing away.

Oh, she missed that but she got away with it.

On her knees, she was.

Pushed herself to her feet

and now she propels onto the cargo net.

BEN: She's five kilograms lighter than the last time we saw her.

She's 63 kg these days.

SHANE: Which, when it comes to Ninja Warrior,

that is just a crucial ingredient.

BEN: And she's determined, Crawf,

to be the highest ranked female ninja this year.

Here she is under the cargo net, just got stuck a little bit.

Just needs to untangle.

BEN: She moves off that net.

SHANE: Bridge of Blades.

She would've practised this many a time.

That is great... Oh, hang on a minute!

She overshot the runway.

SHANE: Into the Doorknob Drop.

That's how fast she was going.

Just take your time, make sure.

Oh, no. She's going straight in.

Grabbing the pole.

Takes a deep breath.

Higher!

Getting advice from her partner on the sidelines.

Easy on the sidelines, everybody knows how to do it.

It's when you're on the course.

I cannot imagine how hard this is.

Just go in the gym, try and do a pull-up.

Never mind trying to walk your hands across some doorknobs.

Unbelievable.

Just getting a little bit of tangle here, Cian.

BEN: How's she going to go here?

SHANE: Yeah, just reaching out for the first one...

BEN: She's in trouble. ..is hard enough.

She's in big trouble but she's hanging in there.

Yeah, the longer she's up that pole,

the more fatigued her legs are going to be.

She's struggling here.

It's OK! It's OK!

BEN: The clock is ticking

and Cian is stuck in no man's land.

She's going to have to have a go.

FREDDIE: She's going double-handed.

Here we go. From one to the next. She's pulling it out of the bag.

This will be miraculous.

If she can get through this,

this is one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

SHANE: She's fighting, she's battling arm fatigue.

She wants this so much, Ben.

Oh, no!

BEN: Cian gave it her all

and when I thought she had nothing left, she proved me wrong.

She had a bit more.

Well done, Cian Maciejewski.

Replay time.

This obstacle seems to have everybody spooked.

Cian was tentative getting onto the first doorknobs.

She was struggling with the burn on the ascent,

then threw out her right hand but missed the knob.

She just couldn't hold herself up with one arm.

SHANE: Great battle from Cian on an unbelievably tough obstacle.

I reckon she may well have done enough to make the semifinals.

Let's see if our next ninja can join her.

STEVE: I'm Steve Taylor-Madin.

I am 38 years old from Melbourne and I am a stay-at-home dad.

So good in front of the camera.

(BELL RINGS)

Coming up to three months now as a full-time dad,

and my daughter Evelyn, she's ten years old.

I chose to be a stay-at-home dad

because Eve's a great kid and I don't want to miss a minute.

Yeah, we're constantly doing stuff together.

Go skateboarding, go scootering, painting each other's nails.

Go to a playground and swing off some monkey bars.

Because we're swinging around all the time,

my daughter came up with the name 'Monkey Steve' and it just stuck.

I'd do anything for Eve, even climb Mount Midoriyama.

100% running the Ninja Warrior course for Evelyn tonight.

EVELYN: My dad's the best ninja

'cause he's so, so strong.

Tonight on the ninja course, I just want to make Evie proud.

Good luck, Dad!

STEVE: She'll be on the sidelines cheering me on.

I'm gonna hit that buzzer for her.

We'll do it for her, for sure.

FREDDIE: Here he is. Steve Taylor-Madin,

a stay-at-home father from Victoria.

Daughter, Evelyn, calls him Monkey.

Go, Dad!

FREDDIE: Go on, the monkey!

Oh, he loves it, doesn't he? Loves it, loves it.

He does know we're filming this, doesn't he?

(STARTING TONE)

BEN: OK, here's another newbie.

Stay-at-home dad, Steve Taylor-Madin.

He doesn't look like your typical ninja

but don't let that throw you off

because he safely through obstacle number one.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: A clap on the sidelines from Evelyn and Steve's wife, Ruth.

FREDDIE: Now, needs to bounce and grab the Tic Toc

and get himself somehow onto the cargo net.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Look at that! Steve!

He doesn't want to lose momentum, got to keep it moving.

There he goes. He's straight on.

I tell you what, he might be a surprise package, this lad.

Needs to watch them feet. Look at that. Oh, easy, Steve.

SHANE: Keep them up.

BEN: Oh, he's OK!

SHANE: Doing it for all the stay-at-home dads.

Good on you, Steve.

We believe. (LAUGHS)

BEN: Well, he's got the crowd behind him as well and there he goes.

Fires them up, Crawf. (AUDIENCE CHANTING)

He's enjoying himself but that could all change

here on the Bridge of Blades.

No, he's sweet!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Looking good, Freddie.

FREDDIE: We've seen it on every season so far.

We get these new ninjas just pop up from nowhere.

Could Steve Taylor-Madin, the 37-year-old from Victoria,

be this season's surprise package?

SHANE: But this is the Doorknob Drop

and only Jake Baker has been able to get past this obstacle tonight.

Steve jumps onto the pole.

Here he goes.

BEN: And this is when that upper body strength and that grip strength

will really be tested.

Now, this is going to be the biggest challenge, I'd say...

SHANE: I'm a believer. ..of his night.

SHANE: I'm a believer in Steve! You can do it!

BEN: OK, here's the transition.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

One arm on each and now makes the transition.

FREDDIE: Seeing his face now though,

starting to get difficult, starting to burn.

He's keeping his concentration.

The monkey noises have gone, the impressions have gone.

All about getting to this next platform.

Go on, Steve. Go on, Steve.

BEN: One more swing and he's completed the Doorknob Drop!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

FREDDIE: I tell you what, I did not have him down for this.

I did not think I'd be talking about Steve Taylor-Madin

on the Double Squirrel.

Can the monkey beat the squirrel?

BEN: He's gone further than some of our most experienced ninjas

on this course.

We've had ninjas who've been in grand finals...

STEVE: Let's go, Steve! Let's go!

..and they have not made it this far.

AUDIENCE (CHANTING): Let's go, Steve! Let's go!

BEN: But Steve Taylor-Madin, the stay-at-home dad from Melbourne

is now taking on the penultimate obstacle, the Double Squirrels.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Here he goes with the swing.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) He's got the grab.

Now, he needs to drive those hips up high

and get enough swing for the next lache.

BEN: There's a big gap here. SHANE: He's got to have a go here.

He's got to have a big swing.

Oh! He's done it!

That's a 3.6 m gap...

Come on, Steve! ..and he stuck it!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Oh! What a ripper!

Come on, Steve!

BEN: He knows!

He can be the second ninja to complete the course tonight

but first he must get up that wall.

Now, Crawf, remind everyone how high has he got to go?

SHANE: 4.25 metres and I can tell you,

it looks a lot bigger when you're down there.

Stay at home dads right around the country, get off the couch,

get on your feet

and cheer on the monkey man

as he launches himself at the Warped Wall.

First attempt, he's just short.

Now, what do you reckon, Crawf?

There's about two inches in that.

He needs to run up a little bit further,

shorter steps and I reckon he'll get there.

Steve, we believe in you, Steve!

Keep going! We're right behind you!

AUDIENCE (CHANTING): Beat the wall!

SHANE: Shorter steps! Keep running!

BEN: Here he goes! The second attempt!

He's there!

He's up the wall! He did it!

(HORN SOUNDS)

You absolute champion!

The stay-at-home dad, monkey man from Melbourne...

SHANE: Yes!

..hits it and absolutely nails it.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: Steve Taylor-Madin!

Wow!

Mate, how did that feel?

Oh! That is amazing.

In Steve we believe. (LAUGHS)

Yes, we do.

Mate, congratulations.

Put your hands together for him.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

A great effort from Steve

and enough upper body strength to get through the doorknobs.

Even after a stumble on the Warped Wall,

he had enough in the tank to make it on his second attempt

to become the second ninja to hit that buzzer tonight.

Little Evelyn is so proud of her monkey dad.

He's looking good for the top 16

and at the moment, he's going to the Power Tower.

BEN: That's right, Crawf.

Dungeon master, Jake Baker,

sits on top of the leaderboard

and there's Steve in second.

Returnees, Josh O'Sullivan

and Cian Maciejewski

round out the top five.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: Let's catch up with Freddie and three of our top ninjas

who have a bet on tonight's heat.

Either Dirt goes furthest or Dirt loses his hair.

Freddie?

Well, I'm in the ninja gym backstage

and I've found the three lads

from Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.

Zak, Dirt and Flash.

Sounds like a really bad law firm, that. Doesn't it? Shocking.

But anyway, I hear tonight there's a bit of a wager

running on this, isn't there?

Yeah. Yeah, there is.

Well, enlighten me, please, Ash. We're not doing this again, are we?

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Either of them two beat me overall, they get to give me the snip.

I think you've got a bad deal in this.

You're not going to get anywhere near this lad.

That hair is going, son.

We'll wait and see, eh?

Thanks for the faith.

Ashlin, words of wisdom.

Ah, yep. None whatsoever. Cheers.

(LAUGHTER) See you in a bit, lads.

BEN: Coming up, the race to the Power Tower heats up

and the biggest names hit the course.

Who will make the top two?

Dan Mason...

The Power Tower encourages you to take a few more risks.

It's an awesome opportunity to get yourself ahead in the competition.

..Zak Stolz...

ZAK: Having the Power Tower this year's actually awesome.

It's all about being perfect on the night.

..the Furbinator, Stewart Furze...

It's the first time we've ever seen it in Australia

and it'll be interesting to see who gets there.

..or Flashlin Ashlin Herbert?

ASHLIN: I'm still going to try and go as fast as I can.

We'll see if we get there or not.

BEN: Find out when we come back.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: Welcome back to Australian Ninja Warrior 2020.

We're at the business end of heat one

with only the top 16 guaranteed a semifinal place.

BEN: And the two fastest ninjas will head to the Power Tower

to race each other

for a crucial time advantage in the semis.

Hoping to be one of them

is 30-year-old, Michael Mischefski

who's on the course right now.

He's a kids ninja coach

who lives in his trackie dacks

and so far, he's looking comfortable on this course.

But now, it's the Doorknob Drop.

SHANE: He is light as a feather.

Look at him go.

The strength in his arms.

He is just absolutely crushing this course as we speak.

Up to the top, it'll drop-down.

He'll twist around

and he has absolutely dominated this section of the course.

BEN: Because he's a featherweight, 67 kg,

it's a bit easier for him to go up that

but having said that oh!

SHANE: Look how fast he's going. Oh, he's got it under control.

"Bring on the Double Squirrel!" That's what he's saying.

BEN: Just takes a couple of seconds to reset

and think about what's ahead of him.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: If he gets through this, bring on the Warped Wall.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: OK, now he's got the big swing

from one set of squirrels to the next.

BEN: He's got those knees, those hips, those legs swinging.

He's going to get this.

This is 3.6 metres.

Oh!

Oh, wow!

BEN: That was a spectacular wipe-out.

I thought he was going for a double backflip dismount.

BEN: I think he did!

SHANE: Wow!

What an exit!

(LAUGHS)

BEN: The key to a successful lache is to drive the hips up

and then bring the upper body into a sitting position.

Michael brought his upper body forward too early

so he was almost horizontal as he catches the handles

and his legs dislodged,

the grip gave way, the rest is history.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Now, get ready for the first

of the Mornington Peninsula 'Peninjas'.

He made his debut last season and blew everyone away

with his performance all the way to the grand final.

Give it up for Zak Stolz.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

ZAK: The original Peninja are myself, Ashlin and Troy.

(LAUGHTER)

I can't believe that worked!

It's not just like a ninja family.

It's more of a regular family.

Like, we always see each other, virtually every day of the week.

Last season, it was very close to the running of Ninja

that Dad passed away.

Obviously, it doesn't get easier.

You just sort of learn to cope with it.

But all the Peninja are there for me in that sort of regard.

We've become a lot closer for it.

Last year in the grand final,

stage two, slipping into the water on the cat grab

was absolutely shattering.

REBECCA: Oh, and he fell! BEN: Oh, no!

What a brutal fall.

ZAK: But I was really happy with how I went.

I got to prove that I can do this stuff.

This time round, I'm going to show everyone I have what it takes

to get all the way to Mount Midoriyama.

Here we go. One to watch, this lad. Zak Stolz.

One of the Mornington Peninsula crew.

Got his mates on the side;

Flashlin Ashlin Herbert and Dirt.

Remember the bet.

If Dirt doesn't beat Zak and Ashlin,

I get the clippers and shave his head.

Happy days.

Last year, Zak was one of our fastest ninjas,

even going further than his good mate, Ashlin Herbert.

(STARTING TONE)

BEN: He's been there, done that but this is a whole new competition

and look at him blast his way through.

He's already thinking about the Power Tower

but this is obstacle number two, the Tic Toc to the Net.

FREDDIE: Just takes one swing, second swing on there,

reaches out for the cargo net.

Nicely underneath, Zak Stolz.

Hard to keep up with.

He's going for speed. I'm going to get ahead of him

'cause he's going to blitz his way through the Bridge of Blades.

He's not hanging around.

He's going for speed.

BEN: But already he's onto obstacle number four in record time.

SHANE: Jake Baker has the fastest time so far

with 02:25 and Zak is matching that pace at the moment.

Can he keep it up on the Doorknob Drop?

FREDDIE: Look at this. He's making easy work of this.

So many ninjas have struggled on this obstacle.

It saps all the energy, all the life out of your arms.

Drops down. Just needs to manoeuvre across now.

BEN: Perfectly timing the transition

and then you've got to do it all again.

You've got to go up and up and up and up and up again.

He's really working though.

He's really taking the big deep breaths

and that's what you need to do.

He needs a couple more big efforts.

BEN: And it looks like all this is starting to take its toll on Zak.

How's it looking where you are, Freddie?

FREDDIE: Just easing up a little bit.

Just starting to struggle a little bit.

You can see the strain on his face.

But manages to get through just one more lache onto the platform.

SHANE: He makes it but that was tough

and he's over five seconds down on Jake Baker now.

BEN: Here we go, Australia.

This is Zak Stolz.

One of the heroes of Ninja Warrior.

He's up onto the monkey bars

and now he's eyeballing the first squirrel.

A 3.6 m gap between squirrel number one and squirrel number two.

SHANE: Oh, look at that leg and hip movement!

BEN: Look at the momentum!

And this is where Michael Mischefski came unstuck.

Oh! I thought he was going to fall short.

That is a tremendous catch.

That is the catch of the year. That really is.

BEN: Watch this, Shane Crawford!

Zak Stolz up the top of the Warped Wall...

(HORN SOUNDS) ..and he's absolutely blitzed

his heat, and he's blitzed Jake Baker's time.

Zak sets the new fastest time for the night.

SHANE: That's putting a bit of pressure on Dirt.

Have a look at Dirt and Flashlin Ashlin down there.

They're not only looking at his celebration,

they're looking at his time as well.

The first ninja under two minutes tonight.

He's on course for the Power Tower.

Let's have a look at the replay.

This was never-say-die stuff from Zak Stolz.

He had to hang in there on the doorknobs,

he made an incredible save on the Double Squirrel

and then powered home with time to spare.

He's the real deal this year.

FREDDIE: Zak, great run. How was the course?

Oh, it was pretty good. It was fun.

And the little fella there, Dirt. He's smiling.

But you have laid down the gauntlet for him

'cause he could be losing his hair very soon.

I'd love to see it, actually.

Dirt, how are you feeling?

Yeah, pretty nervous after that run, eh?

Can't wait to take that hair. Wash it first.

Ashlin, anything from you?

Didn't think so. Cheers.

Cheers, lads.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: Here's how the leaderboard looks.

After that amazing run,

Zak Stolz is on top

and in place for the Power Tower,

and is followed by dungeon master,

Jake Baker in second

and Steve Taylor-Madin in third.

BEN: Josh O'Sullivan

currently sits in sixth position

with Cian Maciejewski seventh.

Tash Sergi rounds out the top ten.

Still to come,

Dan Mason, the Barefoot Ninja, loosening up in the warm-up gym.

But up next, can Dirt save his hair?

Crawf?

Freddie's got the clippers.

Dirt's ready to go like the clappers.

We'll see him run right after the break.

SHANE: We're back on Australian Ninja Warrior

and during the break there was no rest for our ninjas.

BEN: Jade Haddy, sister of Skye,

our first Ninja of the night,

missed out on bragging rights.

Here she goes.

Coming onto the trampoline, onto the Tic Toc.

Oh, no, no, no!

An absolute shocker!

Jade!

Ben: Then med student, Rhys Landwehr

made it all the way

to the Double Squirrel...

And here he goes.

Rhys the beast, swinging in between, 3.6 metres.

Thought he was going to go. This time, this is the one.

Away he goes. Oh!

Just fell at the last.

But that could be enough to get through to the semis.

BEN: before double grand finalist,

Stewart Furze,

became the fourth ninja

to beat the wall and finish the course.

Straight to the top, the Furbinator!

Pulls himself up. (HORN SOUNDS)

Take a bow, Stewart Furze!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: That's why we love the Furbinator!

Yeah! You betcha!

The Furbinator heading into the semifinal.

SHANE: Next is a returning ninja from the Mornington Peninsula

who's hoping to prove he's not hair today, gone tomorrow.

TROY: My name's Troy Cullen.

Most people know me as 'Dirt'.

I'm not the cleanest of blokes.

I just tend to get very dirty very quickly.

It just gets everywhere.

So, I haven't washed my hair since last season of Ninja Warrior.

BEN: And got to be light on the feet.

He's OK! No!

REBECCA: Oh, and it's over... BEN: Close!

..on the third obstacle.

Dirt. Dirt.

You'll be clean now.

Yeah, she's struggling.

So, this year, I've got a bit of a bet with my mates,

Zak and Ashlin.

If I fall off before them, there goes the hair.

It's getting the snip.

So, we've all really upped our training this year.

I feel I'm the strongest I've ever been.

I need to redeem myself on the course.

Got the potential to go as far as the boys

and this year, I think I'll do it.

FREDDIE: He is he is. Troy Cullen AKA Dirt.

Gave a good account of himself last year

on the Ninja Warrior course

but this time needs to go one better

because if he does not beat his mates, Zak or Ashlin,

look what I've got from my dressing room.

(SHAVER BUZZING) That bar nut,

them dirty dreads are coming off.

Not sure he needs the added pressure of this.

This course is so tough anyway.

BEN: 01:58 to beat if he wants to be ahead of Zak

and save the hair on his head.

This is quite the ask.

(STARTING TONE)

Get the clippers ready. Here he goes.

The clock starts, the buzzer sounds.

SHANE: He's quick. BEN: And obstacle number one is done.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Here he goes. Launches himself onto the Tic Toc.

How quickly can he get onto the net?

It'll be the second swing and he will exit.

There he goes.

Now, he's got to get up that net quickly

because he's already five seconds slower than Zak.

He's got a fight on his hands.

SHANE: Bridge of Blades, flying right through.

The light weight there.

A real advantage for someone a bit lighter and a bit smaller.

He's only 67 kg which helps

but now it's time for the Doorknob Drop.

You can tell something's on this.

He does not want to lose them dreadlocks.

Moving across now, shimmying across.

He's got to start pulling himself up now, it starts to get tougher.

Reaches the last of the knobs and then the arm will drop.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

And now got to move himself over.

Not the longest of arms, Troy.

Just weighing up how he's going to get across.

Nicely done. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

The crowd right behind him.

Two mates on the sidelines willing him on.

But he's starting to hurt.

BEN: Oh! SHANE: He's off!

He's gone down into the pool.

The doorknobs have done it again.

Get the clippers ready, Freddie.

That's a tough obstacle that, Dirt.

So it was.

We've got a replay just behind us here

if you want to talk us through it.

Yeah, so I reached up and I just missed it

and at that point, I was like, "Oh, you bloody..."

Think I just misjudged it a bit and went a little bit smaller,

'cause it wobbles out a bit, instead of overcommitting.

You think you were going a bit too much for pace?

Trying to keep up with your man, Zak?

No, I felt like my pace was OK.

Like, I don't think that got me. I think it was just...

Yeah, honestly, I just don't think I bounced up enough.

The only good news is

your hair hasn't been washed for the past year.

It's got a little bit wet.

(SHAVER BUZZING)

If you'd like to pop round my dressing room,

I can probably fit you in at about quarter past for a quick trim.

Sounds good to me.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: Not the result Dirt was looking for

but he was fast through the first part of the course

and that should see him into the semis.

SHANE: Where he'll have a chance to show off his new haircut

courtesy of Freddie Flintoff.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: OK. Our next ninja is one of the greats.

He was equal furthest in last season's grand final

but not fastest and he missed out on a shot at Mount Midoriyama.

In 2020, he's determined to go all the way.

Here he is. The Barefoot Ninja, Daniel Mason.

DANIEL: Last season was amazing,

getting down to the final five,

only two obstacles away from Mount Midoriyama.

REBECCA: The floating doors.

DANIEL: It was a huge year for me.

REBECCA: Daniel Mason falls backwards.

DANIEL: This year, I'm head-to-head with Ashlin

for the first time in the heats.

I've still been training barefoot all year.

I've been working on my speed

so I might have a chance at getting him.

It's a bit of pressure right from the start.

Yeah, I'd love to get one up on him early.

My wife's pregnant again this year.

The baby's due in ten weeks.

We got our little two-and-a-half-year-old son,

Fletcher, getting excited for a baby sister.

Me and my family are looking to build a house

and winning the $400,000 prize money

would go a long way towards helping us do that.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

FREDDIE: Here he is. Daniel Mason. No stranger to Ninja Warrior.

Competed in all four seasons, the Barefoot Ninja.

Last year, he came second overall.

He was the joint furthest but unfortunately not the fastest.

He's desperate to win this competition. Desperate.

BEN: And Freddie, here's how heat one looks at the moment.

Zak Stolz leads the way

with the only sub-two-minute time

tonight.

Joining him on the Power Tower

at the moment

is a second-place, Jake Baker.

So, to qualify for the Power Tower,

Daniel Mason must beat Jake's time of 02:25.

That's about 24 seconds per obstacle.

(STARTING TONE) SHANE: Come on, Daniel.

BEN: He's kicking off on the first obstacle

but right now, I can tell you,

he's not only thinking about the Warped Wall,

he's thinking about the Power Tower.

He really came of age last year finishing second.

He's one of the best.

Here he is, the Barefoot Ninja.

He's on the Tic Toc.

Needs to get onto the cargo net.

Big jump across, easily does it.

Not even using his feet,

just using his upper body strength to get under the cargo net.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Just going to sprint straight across the Bridge of Blades.

Come on, Dan!

BEN: Dan's wife, Maddy, urging him on.

Three obstacles done in about 30 seconds.

SHANE: Now, the Doorknob Drop.

FREDDIE: Making easy work of the course so far

but take this obstacle easy at your peril.

It's seen so many ninjas off tonight.

Just around about this point it starts to burn the arms,

starts to hurt the fingers.

Now, moving his way across,

just grimacing a little bit, gritting those teeth, biting down.

You can see the veins in his arms starting to pump,

the lactic acid starting to build

as he reaches for the last of the doorknobs,

drops down,

lache across onto the squirrel.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: Just crunching the numbers,

Jake Baker's time of 02:25 is in real danger here.

SHANE: The Barefoot Ninja is on fire.

He really is going for that time.

BEN: Look at the big swing now.

Now, he's got the 3.6 metre jump.

He'll have no problem with the length.

BEN: Can he grab it? SHANE: Oh, yes!

Yes, he can.

One more swing and he's onto the Warped Wall.

And there you go, Daniel Mason!

What a performance from this champion!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Here he goes, straight up the wall, the Barefoot Ninja!

Yes, he does it! Oh, what a sight to see!

(HORN SOUNDS) Yes!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

01:42, the fastest time tonight.

Give him a round of applause.

SHANE: The Barefoot Ninja, well done!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: We knew he was going to be impressive

but to see it done so quickly,

who do you want to be against on the Power Tower?

Oh, look, it's always nice to be against Ashlin. (LAUGHS)

But Zak put up an awesome effort, so I'd love to be against him.

OK. Ashlin still to come.

Daniel Mason, well done, mate. Give him a round of applause.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Fantastic stuff from the Barefoot Ninja.

Have a look at the replay.

It just shows the speed.

A masterclass from one of the very best.

He finished the course

nearly 20 seconds faster than everyone else.

SHANE: And laying down a huge challenge for Ashlin Herbert.

BEN: We'll take a break

and then Flashlin Ashlin Herbert takes to the course.

They call him Flashlin for good reason.

He's a lightning strike

and he's got his sights set on the Power Tower.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: OK, Australia, get ready for an absolute superstar.

Last year he blitzed the heats,

blitzed the semis,

before a stunning stumble in the grand final

that cost him a shot at Mount Midoriyama.

He's nicknamed Flashlin Ashlin.

He is Ashlin Herbert.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: The most amazing, naturally gifted athlete

we've seen on Ninja Warrior.

REBECCA: Ashlin Herbert blows the field away!

FREDDIE: Do not move at home, do not blink,

don't get a cup of tea

'cause this will be over very, very quickly.

BEN: I think we're looking at the person most likely

to be the first ever Australian Ninja Warrior.

REBECCA: Makes it! No, he doesn't!

(BUZZER) Ashlin Herbert bombs out!

That is a stunning upset!

BEN: Coming up now to the Salmon Ladder,

he's already ten seconds faster than anyone else.

Here he's...

What?

REBECCA: The favourite's gone.

This is unbelievable.

I'm just good at making stupid mistakes.

It's not that I go too quick.

It's thinking too much about the obstacle when I get there.

I'm definitely coming back to give it a better crack.

I'm still going to try and go as fast as I can.

Hopefully go all the way this year.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: It's going to be about pace here.

Blink and you'll miss it.

Just repeating, the top two each night

face off on the Power Tower

and the winner on the Power Tower

gets a ten second time advantage going into the semis.

SHANE: Which is huge.

BEN: So, a lot's on the line.

Ashlin wants that advantage.

SHANE: To get there, he must beat

Zak Stolz's time of 01:58.

Sounds a big ask.

BEN: But this man, Ashlin Herbert,

is arguably the fastest we have ever seen

on Australian Ninja Warrior.

The time to beat: 01:58:92.

(STARTING TONE)

Here we go. He's underway and look at him absolutely fly.

Through the steps in a heartbeat, already on the Tic Toc.

Moving around, getting in position.

Ready for the leap.

He's off the Tic Toc and onto the net.

After 15 seconds.

Taking a bit longer on the net than he'd like to.

SHANE: But you've got to remember, he's going so fast,

so you can make mistakes when you're going super-quick.

Look at the speed!

This is incredible.

BEN: Here he goes. He's at the Doorknob Drop.

Right on the 30 second mark, same as a Zak Stolz.

A dead heat.

FREDDIE: He's working his way up now,

the first of the arms will come down, it will drop.

And now, he's just got to shift his arms and his body

onto the second of the arms and go through it all again.

SHANE: He's burning but his technique is working.

A little hip swing as he's reaching out.

It's got him to the end of the second door.

BEN: Ashlin Herbert hits the mat and he's under one minute.

He's got to be under 01:58

to make the Power Tower with Daniel Mason.

SHANE: He's onto the first squirrel.

BEN: Grips it, holds it,

and now the momentum's needed to land the next one.

SHANE: 3.6 metres is the gap.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) BEN: He's grabbed that too.

SHANE: He's going to smash the clock if he can get down

and run all the way up to the Warped Wall!

There he goes!

He's going to hit the buzzer!

(HORN SOUNDS)

BEN: He's done it!

SHANE: That was lightning quick!

BEN: Under 01:30

and that makes it the fastest time of the night.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Congratulations, Ashlin Herbert.

Thanks, guys.

BEN: The replay tells the story of a champion.

Not once did he give up on the speed,

always focused

and even when his lache was just a little bit off,

he corrected himself and he finished a winner.

Ashlin Herbert.

It's you and Daniel Mason on the Power Tower, mate.

You reckon you've got his measure on the Power Tower?

Don't know. We've had a few comps before

and he has beaten me a few times.

Ashlin, when you're going so fast,

do you think, "Hang on. I should actually take a breath, slow down"

"and think through what I'm going to do next"?

No, not really. (LAUGHS)

BEN: He doesn't think. He just does.

Ashlin Herbert! See, do!

Give him a round of applause.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Flashlin Ashlin.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

SHANE: Let's see how that affects the final leaderboard.

BEN: And what an amazing heat

to kick off season four.

Ashlin finishes over 15 seconds

faster than Dan Mason.

SHANE: Pushing good mate, Zak Stolz

out of the top two

and off the Power Tower.

BEN: What about impressive

new ninja monkey, Steve Taylor-Madin?

He takes out sixth spot.

Then there's the man they call Dirt,

Troy Cullen.

He may be about to lose

his dreadlocks

but he finds himself

in ninth position.

SHANE: And Skye Haddy

just manages to cling

onto 16th spot,

the final qualifying position.

So, there's the top 16 through to the semifinals.

But the top two, Ashlin Herbert and Daniel Mason,

now head to the Power Tower

and for the first time ever, it's ninja versus ninja.

SHANE: But before then,

let's head to the warm-up gym

where Freddie and his clippers are ready to settle a bet.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

Here we go. (LAUGHTER)

It's coming off now. Here we go.

I hate to tell you, but you're going bald.

Well, he is now.

(LAUGHTER)

BEN: OK, Australia. Get ready.

For the first time, the two fastest ninjas go head-to-head,

racing each other for a ten second time advantage

heading into the semifinals.

Your first look at the Power Tower coming right up.

Don't go anywhere!

The Power Tower awaits!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: Welcome back to Australian Ninja Warrior.

Strap yourselves in

for the breathtaking climax of heat one.

For the first time, it's ninja versus ninja.

Ashlin Herbert and Daniel Mason,

two of the best we've ever seen,

in a head-to-head race to the buzzer for a game-changing advantage;

a massive ten seconds taken off their semifinal time.

SHANE: It all happens on our newest and most formidable obstacle,

the Power Tower.

BEN: The race begins with five steps, each 1.5 metres high.

At the top, ninjas will leap to the first monkey bar

then shimmy around before descending five and a half metres

down U-bar to the unsteady and detachable horizontal beam.

SHANE: It's like a three metre tightrope walk.

Fall off here and the ninjas get back on

but will lose plenty of time.

Then it's back up the vertical pole,

a lache onto the monkey bars and a race to hit the buzzer.

(HORN SOUNDS)

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: Down in the crowd, excitement is building.

There's Zak and Dirt right in the thick of it

and Dirt might be in need of a beanie right about now.

Poor old Dirt.

SHANE: Here they come.

Ashlin has a height advantage.

175 cm to 167,

but the Barefoot Ninja

is the lighter of the two.

Just 65 kg to Ashlin's 78.

It's anybody's race.

This is the moment we've all been waiting for.

We are amongst family and friends,

everyone's excited and we can't wait.

Yeah, that's right. Daniel's family's here,

Ashlin's family's here

and Freddy Flintoff has got a front row seat.

The crowd is ready,

Daniel and Ashlin are stood at the bottom of the Power Tower,

ready to take it on to win that all-important time advantage

to take into the semifinals.

This is going to be good, this is going to be fast.

I cannot wait.

Here we go.

(STARTING TONE)

BEN: Who's going to get the early start?

I think it's Ashlin by about an inch but Daniel's right behind him.

SHANE: Oh, Ashlin's flying up the wall.

It's not a wall, it's a cliff it's so high and there he goes!

Onto the bar and down to the U-bar!

BEN: Now, it's Ashlin just ahead on the pole, now the beam.

You've got to be careful here. They're taking their time.

Oh, it's shaky.

BEN: Ashlin! SHANE: Oh!

BEN: Oh, no!

Daniel's gone down!

That beam is supposed to break off for safety reasons.

Ashlin holds on!

I think you'll find that Ashlin Herbert

is going to close this thing out and do it,

although here comes Daniel Mason!

SHANE: Daniel is flying up that pole!

Ashlin now onto the swinging bars,

this is his go-to

although Daniel's making a great run at it!

BEN: Ashlin Herbert gets the swing,

moves across the bars,

he hits the buzzer! (HORN SOUNDS)

It's Ashlin Herbert by about one second!

SHANE: That was incredible!

It really, really was!

Two amazing athletes! Wow!

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: Ashlin Herbert,

the first ninja to hit the buzzer on the Power Tower

on Australian Ninja Warrior.

That was incredible.

SHANE: Ashlin banks a crucial ten second time advantage

and that puts him in the driving seat in the semifinals.

BEN: The Barefoot Ninja was down on the bottom of the mat

and somehow resurrected himself

and came within a whisker of hitting that buzzer.

SHANE: And do you know what?

That just shows you, you never give up.

Always keep yourself in the game.

BEN: Well done to Ashlin Herbert.

He's down with Freddie.

Ashlin, that was quick.

You managed to beat Dan at the final bit

but talk us through that course. What's that like?

Yeah, that was good fun.

Um, yeah, I wasn't sure what to expect

but um, yeah, it was good.

It was really good fun.

It looked like you had it in the bag at one point when Dan fell off.

But you struggled coming back up, didn't you?

Yeah, I think I knackered myself on the pole a little bit,

so they're a bit sore at the moment.

Yeah, no. It was... Got back up there. (LAUGHS)

Were you aware how close it was with Dan?

Did you know he was right behind you, nipping on your heels?

Ah, yeah.

As you can imagine, Ashlin's lost for words as usual.

Ben and Crawf, back to you, lads.

Thanks, Freddie, and a massive congratulations to Ashlin Herbert

and all the ninjas tonight.

What an incredible night.

Mate, mesmerising.

Absolutely heart-stopping action

and guess what, we've only just begun.

We're back tomorrow night with more action

on Australian Ninja Warrior.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

BEN: Tomorrow night,

heat number two

and 40 more ninjas are up for the challenge.

(SQUEALS)

WOMAN: We have a bit of rivalry

and we're always like, "Who's better?"

I guess we'll find out on the course who's the best.

BEN: Among them, champion barista, the Hipster Ninja, Eddie Burrill.

The beard is the part, sunnies are the part.

I do a lot of latte art.

BEN: Ashlin Herbert's ninja trainer and girlfriend, Sarah Blackmore.

SARAH: Hopefully, I can beat him

to prove that the girls can give the boys

a bit of a run for their money.

BEN: And Melvin Solo,

an inspirational young man who survived war-torn Africa.

Plus, power couple, Ben Polson...

BEN: I've been training all year for this.

I'm ready for 2020. Let's do it.

..versus Olivia Vivian.

I aim to be the first female

to ever do a Power Tower

anywhere in the world.

BEN: Could they be competing on the all-new Power Tower?

Ashlin Herbert gets the swing!

He hits the buzzer! (HORN SOUNDS)

BEN: And still to come on season four

of Australian Ninja Warrior...

REBECCA AND BEN: Charlie Robbins!

..the best of the best...

FREDDIE: Rob Patterson!

Is he going to be the first ever

to press the buzzer? (HORN SOUNDS)

..are back...

..to tackle our toughest course yet...

(SCREAMS)

..and it all leads to this monster, Mount Midoriyama.

I'm definitely ready to do Mount Midoriyama.

Everything in between, that's the hard part.

Once I get to the rope, I'm safe, I'm home.

BEN: Will 2020 be the year that someone conquers the mountain

and becomes Australia's first Ninja Warrior?

REBECCA: You are a superstar!