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BBC Radio 4
Unreal
A Critical History of Reality TV
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...
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Ratings & Reviews
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4.8 stars from 549 ratings
Surprised
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“In 1993 I took part in The Living Soap which was the first reality TV show (as we know the format) We had the first diary room with pieces to camera. Admittedly it wasn’t the best show but a lot was learnt about how not to do a reality TV show and it had a cult following. I was surprised that it...”Read full review »
LEAHBLISH via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
11/06/23
Excellent Podcast
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“I worried this would just be a walk through the history of reality TV but it was so much more than this. Forensic, challenging and not afraid to face into the issues we have seen from this genre. Presented by two outstanding journalists. Excellent listen. Highly recommended.”
KENNYPV via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
09/04/23
Loved it!
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“Absolutely loved this podcast series! Great hosts, well researched content!”
Memmett08 via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
06/16/23
Recent Episodes
Join Chi Chi Izundu as she looks back on the world of The X Factor, where contestants perform in front of celebrity judges to realise their dream. It’s a world of glamour and excitement, but also of hard truths, hard words and hard work. For our hopefuls, the first step is the audition process....
Published 02/01/24
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:...
Published 05/18/22
Published 05/18/22
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