Unreal

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Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

The dumbest genre in entertainment, or the one that tells us the most about ourselves?

Journalists Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale explore how reality TV shapes our lives and the ethical questions raised by the format, featuring iconic shows and stars.

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

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Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV: 1. The Social Experiment: Big Brother Is Watching You

1. The Social Experiment: Big Brother Is Watching You

BBC Radio 4 - Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV, 1. The Social Experiment: Big Brother Is Watching You

How Britain’s first ‘official’ reality show became a global phenomenon.

4 Extra Debut. How Britain’s first ‘official’ reality show became a global phenomenon, the importance of authenticity and how Jade Goody created a new type of celebrity.

Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale wind back to Britain's first ‘official’ reality show, to look at how it became a global phenomenon, the importance of authenticity, and how Jade Goody created a new type of celebrity - famous for simply being herself. Featuring interviews with housemates Nick Bateman aka 'Nasty Nick' and Brian Dowling, and Big Brother's Creative Director Philip Edgar Jones, plus many more. 

Producer: Hannah Hufford
Executive Producer: Pandora Sykes
Executive Editor: James Cook 
Content Producer: Hannah Robins
Technical Producer: Giles Aspen

Archive credits:
Big Brother, Endemol UK
Candid Microphone, Colombia Pictures
Candid Camera, ABC Television
The Family, BBC
The Late Review, BBC
The Reunion, Whistledown
Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain, Blast! Films
Stars in Their Eyes, Granada Television
Celebrity Big Brother, Endemol UK
Prime Ministers Questions, Parliamentary Recording Unit 
Bigg Boss, Endemol Shine India

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Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV

1. The Social Experiment: Big Brother Is Watching You

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