The dumbest genre in entertainment, or the one that tells us the most about ourselves? Since its conception, reality TV has divided its viewers. Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV is a 10-part audio documentary written and presented by journalists Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale. They've been fans of reality TV since they first watched Big Brother as pre-teens and they've spent a fair amount of time defending reality TV when people are snobby about it, or dismiss its importance in our wider culture. But they've also been troubled by what they've seen in the genre: the exploitation; the lack of aftercare; the impacts of sudden fame. Using interviews with the creators, producers and stars of some of the most iconic reality shows of the last two decades, and leading cultural critics of today, Unreal explores how reality TV has shaped entertainment, fashion, beauty, celebrity and even politics - and some of the ethical issues raised by the format. Producer: Hannah Hufford Executive Producer: Pandora Sykes Executive Editor: James Cook Content Producer: Hannah Robins Technical Producer: Giles Aspen
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0c5w0zm
Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 9 hours 5 minutes
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Offstage: Inside The X Factor - Episode 1
Fame, fortune and fallout: Chi Chi Izundu looks back at one of Britain's biggest TV shows.
10. A Format In Crisis & The Future of Reality TV: Love Island, Part 2
How one of TV’s most popular shows became mired in tragedy and controversy.
9. The Influencer Sausage Factory: Love Island, Part 1
How Love Island became a finishing school for influencers and a commercial juggernaut.
8. Lifestyles of The Mega-Rich: The Real Housewives & Selling Sunset
Property porn, toxic wealth, and why audiences want schadenfreude.
7. The British Docusoap: The Only Way Is Essex & Made In Chelsea
How these BAFTA-winning reality shows became national treasures.
6. Climbing The Ladder: Keeping Up With The Kardashians
America’s First Family and how they created an entirely new category of uber-celebrity.
5. The Birth of Scripted Reality: Laguna Beach & The Hills
The shows that birthed reality’s first wave of lifestyle influencers.
4. The Makeover Era: The Swan and What Not To Wear
How the rise of cosmetic surgery collided with reality TV.
3. The Wild West Years: There’s Something About Miriam and Who’s Your Daddy
How the explosion of reality TV in the early 2000s caused ethics to fly out the window.
2. The Talent Show Boom: Pop Idol and The X Factor
How three men called Simon are responsible for the gold rush of talent shows.
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