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 AspenArchive 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

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

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

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

Society & Culture

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

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

Sign up to save your podcasts

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

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

More shows like Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV

Shameless

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

Sentimental Garbage

Katherine Ryan: Telling Everybody Everything

My Therapist Ghosted Me

The Rest Is Politics

Dish

The News Agents

Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

The Rest Is Entertainment

Miss Me?

Everything Is Content

The Rest Is Politics: US

Great Company with Jamie Laing