The Recent Increase of Reality TV Shows – What do you Think?

We all love some online bingo, online slots or even the odd online scratchard, but there is still one thing that trumps these games: TV! We Brits LOVE our telly programmes, but have you noticed just how many reality TV shows there seems to be nowadays? Our boxes have been inundated with “talent” shows for years but it’s the new trend of “mockumentaries” that have been grabbing our attention – and not for all the RIGHT reasons!

We have had our fair share of talent shows dating all the way back to 1948 – “Original Amateur Hour” – and continuing with things like Eurovision which started in the 1950’s and even the likes of Stars in their Eyes (1980’s) but the one that really launched this kind of entertainment was Popstars – The Rivals which hit our screens way back in 1999! This was a talent search for the next big thing in pop and it went down a MASSIVE hit. This then paved the way for more reality TV shows like Big Brother launched in the UK in 2000. We were fascinated at seeing people just like us parade about the TV, though exactly why we were so engrossed remains somewhat of a mystery to this day. Big Brother didn’t just pave the way for a whopping 12 more series and a celebrity version, it also paved the way for other reality TV shows to be made. TV bosses clearly saw just how phenomenally popular Big Brother and Popstars was and decided to cash in on the popularity. Not long after the release of these shows, we started to see the release of more and more talent shows. Pop Idol was launched back in 2002 and ended up forming the most successful girl-group since the Spice Girls: Girls Aloud.

It has to be said that in the last 10 years or so, the reality TV virus has spread, sucking in all telly-viewers who stand in the way! The X Factor has been the most massively successful British TV show ever but the talent shows didn’t end with singing. Dancing on Ice and Dancing with the Stars opened up the talent entertainment sector to dancing, whilst Dragons Den and The Apprentice meant that even the business sectors didn’t want to be left out of the loop. Britain’s Got Talent paved the way for anyone who’s anyone to hit our TV’s – from dancing dogs to flame-throwers!

In the last 2 years, though, Britain has been hit with a whole new reality TV fad: The Mockumentary! Starting with The Only Way is Essex, the audience got to delve into the lives of the young and (arguably!) beautiful inhabitants of Essex and saw these strange creatures living their daily lives in all their fake-tan, “vagazzled” glory! TOWIE knock-off Made in Chelsea saw the messy-headed, plum-mouthed youth of the wealthiest part of London hit our screens in a tangle of arguments, infidelity and a whole lot of bitching, and we as a nation have been absolutely lapping this up!

Just like online gaming, no matter what you think about the various types of reality TV shows, we all have our fave and it looks like the “fad” is defiant to leave our screens!