11 episodes
Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV BBC Radio 4
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- Society & Culture
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4.8 • 28 Ratings
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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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10. A Format In Crisis & The Future of Reality TV: Love Island, Part 2
Sirin Kale and Pandora Sykes look at how one of TV’s most popular shows became mired in tragedy and controversy. Where did it all go wrong? And is this the end for reality TV? Featuring interviews with Megan Barton-Hanson, Dr Alex George, Jake Cornish, Rachel Finni and many more.
Producer: Hannah Hufford
Executive Producer: Pandora Sykes
Executive Editor: James Cook
Content Producer: Hannah Robins
Technical Producer: Giles Aspen
Archive credits:
The Victoria Derbyshire Show, BBC
Love Island, ITV Studios/Lifted Entertainment/Motion Content Group
This Morning, Granada Television
Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death, Curious Films
1Xtra Talks with Richie Brave, BBC
Sophie Gradon On Internet Trolls, Radio Aire
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee meeting 14 September 2021, Parliamentary Recording Unit
The Great British Bake Off, Love Productions
The Voice, Wall to Wall
Big Brother, Endemol UK -
9. The Influencer Sausage Factory: Love Island, Part 1
Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale analyse how Love Island became a finishing school for influencers and a commercial juggernaut through its association with fast fashion. Featuring interviews with Megan Barton-Hanson, Dr Alex George, and many more.
Producer: Hannah Hufford
Executive Producer: Pandora Sykes
Executive Editor: James Cook
Content Producer: Hannah Robins
Technical Producer: Giles Aspen
Archive credits:
Love Island, ITV Studios/Lifted Entertainment/Motion Content Group
Sausages, Adam Buxton
Trying on Love Island x I Saw it First outfits… is it worth the money!?, Roxxsaurus
Ethical Fashion, Brett Staniland
The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, Steven Bartlett
Let’s Talk Business: Meet My Manager (Finally), Molly Mae Hague
Blindboy Undestroys the World, Rumpus Media for BBC 3
Olivia Attwood video on influencers flying to Dubai for work -
8. Lifestyles of The Mega-Rich: The Real Housewives & Selling Sunset
Sirin Kale and Pandora Sykes slip into the moneyed world of the Californian 0.01% with the help of a Real Housewife and a Selling Sunset realtor, to examine property porn, toxic wealth, and why audiences want schadenfreude. Featuring interviews with Real Housewife's Taylor Armstrong, Selling Sunset's Mary Fitzgerald, plus the show creators and more.
Producer: Hannah Hufford
Executive Producer: Pandora Sykes
Executive Editor: James Cook
Content Producer: Hannah Robins
Technical Producer: Giles Aspen
Archive credits:
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Evolution Media
Dallas, Lorimar Productions
Desperate Housewives, Cherry Productions
Selling Sunset, Done and Done Productions
ABC News, ABC -
7. The British Docusoap: The Only Way Is Essex & Made In Chelsea
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 -
6. Climbing The Ladder: Keeping Up With The Kardashians
Sirin Kale and Pandora Sykes delve into the story of America’s First Family, the Kardashian-Jenners, and how they leveraged reality tv to redefine beauty ideals and create an entirely new category of uber-celebrity. Featuring interviews with Keeping Up With The Kardashian's executive producer for all 20 seasons, plus @NorisBlackBook creator, and many more.
Producer: Hannah Hufford
Executive Producer: Pandora Sykes
Executive Editor: James Cook
Content Producer: Hannah Robins
Technical Producer: Giles Aspen
Archive credits:
Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Bunim-Murray Productions
Oprah's Next Chapter, Harpo Studios
X17onlineVideo's video of Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian with paparazzi
Kim Kardashian’s Business Advice, Variety -
5. The Birth of Scripted Reality: Laguna Beach & The Hills
Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale tread a nostalgic path back to their teenage years and The Hills, which birthed reality’s first wave of lifestyle influencers. Featuring interviews with Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, and many more.
Producer: Hannah Hufford
Executive Producer: Pandora Sykes
Executive Editor: James Cook
Content Producer: Hannah Robins
Technical Producer: Giles Aspen
Archive credits:
The OC, Wonderland Sound and Vision
Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, Go Go Luckey Productions
The Hills, Done and Done Productions
Nightline, ABC News Productions
Velvet’s Edge with Kelly Henderson, Nashville Podcast Network
Customer Reviews
One of the best documentaries, period, I’ve ever consumed
I’m always trying to explain to skeptical friends why reality TV matters and raises compelling social questions. This series really lays it out in a compelling, empathetic, and critically important way. I was riveted for all ten episodes and learned a lot about subjects I thought I’d already read about ad nauseam.
P.S. To my fellow Americans: you may need headphones for the TOWIE episode (if you don’t already watch the show), because the comments on accent differences between Essex and Chelsea…leave us American scratching our heads!
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