Unreal

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Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV

Podcasts

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

9. The Influencer Sausage Factory: Love Island, Part 1

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

Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV: 7. The British Docusoap: The Only Way Is Essex & Made In Chelsea

1. The Social Experiment: Big Brother Is Watching You

7. The British Docusoap: The Only Way Is Essex & Made In Chelsea

BBC Radio 4 - Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV, 7. The British Docusoap: The Only Way Is Essex & Made In Chelsea

How these BAFTA-winning reality shows became national treasures.

How these BAFTA-winning reality shows became national treasures and explore why the ingredients for a good reality show are the same, wherever they are set.

Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale look at how these BAFTA-winning reality shows became national treasures and explore why the ingredients for a good reality show are the same, wherever they are set. Featuring interviews with Spencer Matthews, Georgia Toffolo, James Lock, plus many more. 

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

Archive credits:
The British Academy Television Awards: 2011, Whizz Kid Entertainment
The Only Way is Essex, Lime Pictures
Made in Chelsea, Monkey Kingdom
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Hot Sauce
The Reality of Reality TV with Fleur East, Bauer Media
What We Don't Post, Nicola Hughes and Tiffany Watson
I’ve Been There: Amy Childs and Cosmetic Surgery, Nine Lives Media

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Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV

7. The British Docusoap: The Only Way Is Essex & Made In Chelsea

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