36 minute read
Reality TV Special Stars Under Pressure
FEATURES REALITY TV SPECIAL: STARS UNDER PRESSURE
With falling figures of people tuning in to some programmes and the axe of ‘The X Factor’ this year, the nation appears to be falling out of love with a fair few reality shows...
As intense public scrutiny is also reportedly affecting participants’ mental health, is the honeymoon phase for the likes of 'Love Island' and other dating programmes over? And what about the infamous ‘Strictly’ curse? What lies ahead for the dance-off shows?
Celebrity Journalist Angela Sara West digs deeper with reality show stars to find out what they think is in store for such series.
From 'Strictly Come Dancing', 'Made In Chelsea' and 'TOWIE', to 'The Great British Bake Off', 'Sewing Bee' and Ant & Dec's star-studded ‘I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!', the reality TV show portfolio covers a plethora of genres galore.
Brightening up our summer screens since 2015, the spark of lust'n'love and dating dramas with the audience seemed to dissipate for ‘Love Island’ this year, with the series’ opener pulling in the show's smallest overnight launch viewership since 2017, and viewers enjoying Euro 2020 and Wimbledon instead.
Unlike the first fly-on-the-wall reality shows like ‘Big Brother’, with numerous reality shows we now observe scripted showdowns, mandatory meet-ups, manipulated cast members, and scenes structured for “our entertainment”, often making things feel forced.
We also have glossier, more aspirational participants, with constructed reality stars making careers out of crossovers, as personalities move on to the challenges of plentiful other popular reality programmes after starring in their first, going on to compete in shows such as ‘Celebrity MasterChef’ and ‘Celebs Go Dating’, resulting in super star success stories.
Acting as a springboard to success in other mediums, careers in acting, pop music, and even the business world, ordinary people frequently find overnight success off the back of the shows. But with producers putting pressure on participants, contestants losing their ‘dignity’ on a public platform, scripted reality shows, too, it seems reality TV has lost its grip on reality and is consequently losing public support.
So, just what is it that is turning people off from these previously phenomenallypopular programmes? Are we fed up with the copycat formats? Are reality shows still relevant? Have they gone too far? Or is it the damaging mental health aspects that are putting us off? After all, there have been rumours rumbling for years over the lack of show aftercare. The fact that there have even, sadly, been subsequent suicides and incidents of self-harm among reality stars and hosts could well be the cause of the channel switchover.
There's also the savage social media outrage culture, which Ofcom says reflects a "trend of growing complaints about high-profile TV. Shows should, of course, have a duty of care.
What is the future for reality series? To find out more, I chat exclusively with a few famous faces about what it’s REALLY like to star on a reality show, delve into their highs and lows, and discover what they believe the future holds for such series.
Amy Day - Love Islander 2021
All-singing, all-dancing Surrey star Amy Day shot to fame on this year’s ‘Love Island’ and, hot out of the villa, is now in much demand as a performer and model for shoots for glossy
REALITY TV SPECIAL: STARS UNDER PRESSURE
magazines and so much more.
Her highs on the show? “The fact you’ve been picked out of the entire nation to go on!” she tells me. “Plus the chance to experience what it is actually like, and the great platform once you leave.”
The brunette bombshell felt prepared when entering the villa. “I am quite strong minded anyway when it comes to negativity and so on,
but I spent a long time deciding about going on, so I definitely went through all the pros and cons and knew I’d be ok. I did not feel any pressure and was just excited to be on ‘Love Island’. I kept fit before going in because I knew I’d be in a bikini, so I guess that was my biggest pressure.” As for aftercare, the Casa Amor contestant and theatrically-trained actress & singer reassuringly reveals that that particular aspect proved a positive experience for her. “There is a lot of support from the aftercare team! There is no fault.”
The stunning social media star is now reaping the rewards of that time in the limelight, which has acted as a launchpad to amazing opportunities. She has since modelled at our LFW show in Surrey, been auditioning for West End and TV shows, and dons her dancing shoes to chat all things ‘Strictly’ every Sunday evening for her IGTV series ‘Strictly Between Us’ with TV & radio presenter Benjy Potter and, among countless other public appearances, the 2021 Love Islander performed at Lady Wimbledon’s famous Boo Bash at the Dog & Fox in Wimbledon Village this Saturday October 30th.
Laurence LlewelynBowen - Celebrity Interior Designer
Twenty five years on from when the TV show which turned velvet-and-purpleloving Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen into a creative superstar first hit our screens, 'Changing Rooms' is back on the box, with Laurence returning to his ‘feather-ruffling’ role as an extravagant designer extraordinaire in the cult interior design show, delivering interiors inspo in spades, with a 2021 twist. “It was such an iconic series!” Laurence tells me. “Along with being about the transformation of a room through a makeover, it was also about the panto, the casting, the energy and the reality. And, of course, purple!”
As one of the first reality shows, the unprecedented home makeover series exploded viewers' interest in interior design and DIY, and BOOM... Britain was bitten by the home improvement bug! Fun, fast-paced and full of drama, the 90’s show revolutionised home decoration, with being creative with colour and design becoming the nation’s favourite weekend pastime.
The interiors guru first burst onto our screens in 1996 in the BBC's landmark lifestyle game-changing home
LLB P Credit Steve Thorp
improvement programme, turning its resident maximalist Laurence and his crafty colleagues, including Linda Barker, into household names overnight. “When we started the show back in the mid-90s, nobody dared to decorate out of their comfort style,” Laurence explains. “Our show brought interior design down from its ‘posh’ pedestal, inspiring everyone to pick up their paintbrushes and get arty in their own abode.” He admits he wasn’t keen, initially, on starring on TV. “I remember the first couple of very negative responses, when we were just starting out and my children were very young. This was before social media, but then I received LOTS of letters from people writing in to say, ‘Well, they SURREYROCKS | ISSUE 03 47
might not have liked it, but I did!’”
He reveals that made him realise that taste is “absolutely subjective”. “So I thought, in that case, I’m going to go on TV to encourage people to do it THEIR way, to just have a go and have some fun along the way.”
The phenomenallypopular series led to copious copycats on other channels, with show-after-show copying the 'Changing Rooms' format. Laurence starred in a string of highlysuccessful home makeover series, notably 'DIY: SOS', which he still stars in today.
He says the first big shoot he did was for the cover of The TV Times after the first 'Changing Rooms' series. "That was an odd moment in TV where the expert on the programme (me!) suddenly became the cover star, which hadn't happened before. This was 1996, long before the cult of the TV expert ever really happened, way before Jamie Oliver."
Revived on Channel 4 this September, out-there Laurence reveals that he still loves pushing people out of their comfort zone, and revels in the fact that he’s different. “I love that people’s expectations when I walk into the room, they know that it’s going to be taken somewhere they would never take it to themselves,” he says. “In the early days, the first series, it was absolutely extraordinary, ‘Changing Rooms’ was the first real proper reality show, the first time that everything was kept in, even if it didn’t work. It was the debut of what you saw on TV that was happening to real people, the first-ever kind of reality show where that was allowed to happen.”
With showstopping concepts ensuring establishments are sexy and luxurious, he’s still shocking and inspiring the nation through his elegantly-executed, elaborate overhauls and outlandish OTT creations. "I think what Channel 4 have done with programmes like 'Pottery Throw Down' and 'Bake Off', which were originally BBC shows, they're very good at taking these traditional BBC ideas but giving them a bit of a spin, making them more rock'n' roll and a bit more fun!" "Uplifting 'Changing Rooms', 'Sewing Bee'... these sort of shows are really heartening to feel that we are going to make something that people will really enjoy... they're about the creativity, and everyone gets on, whereas other shows are about the competition." VICKY PATTISON – TV STAR/JUNGLE QUEEN/MASTERCHEF FINALIST
Reality royalty and influencer Vicky Pattison reeled in the nation with her fun'n'honest personality on ‘I’m A Celeb…’ in 2015. Crowned Queen of the Jungle, she’s also the queen of keeping things real and known for her inspiring social media presence and promoting body positivity.
Those annual jungle shower scenes are gold for the media, and as a mental health and positive body image advocate, Vicky champions body positivity, inclusivity and inner confidence, leaving women feeling strong, beautiful and empowered. What does body confidence mean to Vicky? “Learning to love the skin you’re in - embracing every inch of your body, shunning society’s ideals of what is considered ‘attractive’ and celebrating your uniqueness! We’re all fabulously flawed, and that’s what makes us human and beautiful. Big butt, little butt, huge boobs, itty bitty ones, cellulite, rolls, flat stomach, tall or small - we are all perfect in our own way - and once you realise that and learn to appreciate your body as so much more than a number on a scale, that is body confidence.”
On her mission to empower women, Vicky has teamed up with a global lingerie retailer and has just launched
Pour Moi x Vicky
Pattison edit, offering a stunning collection championing inclusivity and creating styles to fit and flatter all body shapes.
Vicky Pattison Pour Moi
Olly Murs - Singer/ songwriter/ The Voice Coach
Sensationally dropped after hosting the 2015 ‘The X Factor’ series, singer/ songwriter and ‘The Voice’ coach Olly Murs revealed he battled with depression after his presenting duties on the show, alongside the now, sadly, late Caroline Flack, were met with much criticism. He says dealing with the pressures of the industry when first in the public eye was not easy... and it got even worse. Coming
second on the ITV singing competition himself in 2009, the singing sensation confessed that the pressure to present what was "at the time, the biggest show on TV" was "intense".
Opening up his mental health, the pop star admits he had a difficult time, experiencing anxiety and panic attacks. "It was intense", he says. Although following his ‘X Factor’ axe and short-lived career as a presenter, multi-talented Olly's career has gone from strength-to-strength, seeing him mentor aspiring singers in his high-profile role as a coach on ‘The Voice UK’.
He wrote the song ‘Talking to Yourself’ about his anxiety and encourages other men to speak up about their mental health. His tips? “I’d encourage anyone struggling to talk to someone. You’d be surprised how many people will empathise, and probably open up about themselves.
“I think it’s becoming more acceptable for men in particular to talk openly together about their mental health. But I’d also advise anyone to go and speak to an impartial counsellor. It definitely did me the world of good, to have a stranger give me an impartial view and advice. Finding a hobby, or something that makes you feel good is always a positive, too. Having an outlet for any stresses or anxieties, even if it’s as simple as going for a walk.”
Calling for Brits to #BanTheBland, his campaign with Peperami, he reveals he's presenting a brand-new talent show for ITV. I have a new show coming out soon called ‘Starstruck!’”
Peter Andre - Singer, actor & TV presenter
From the ‘Strictly’ dance floor to jungle life, ’90s pop pin-up Peter Andre took time out from the public eye before coming back with a bang, finding fame again on entering ITV’s hit jungle-based show ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here?' in 2004, where he met Katie Price, wrote the song ‘Insania’ and gave fans a daily dose of those impressive abs.
Shortly after leaving the jungle, the 2004 re-release of ‘Mysterious Girl’ went straight to the top of the UK charts, eight years after its original release, seeing Peter enter the Guinness Book of Records as the only singer to have the same song hit the top of the UK charts three times!
Along with reality shows a-go-go, there have subsequently been small and bigscreen appearances aplenty, including presenting gigs on ‘60-Minute Makeover’, showbusiness reporter jobs on ‘This Morning’ and even a Hollywood movie.
Peter tells me he’s grateful for the opportunities he's had. “It’s just been amazing that I’ve had so many doors opening, and I’ve been lucky enough to give new things a try!” Gracing our screens to show off his cool dance moves on ‘Strictly Come Dancing,’ and going back Down Under to take on jungle challenges were both big learning curves for the celebrated singer.
“'Strictly’ and ‘I’m a Celebrity’ are two shows that are entirely poles apart, but where you learn different things about yourself," he explains. "Let’s just say that both shows taught me a lot!”
Peter Andre
Alex Murphy - Dancing on Ice Champ & Celebs Go Skating Presenter
"I absolutely love reality TV!" two-time Champion of ‘Dancing of Ice’ and presenter of ‘Celebs Go Skating’ tells me. "I’ve been so fortunate to have been on a few myself and hosting them is really exciting; you never know what’s going to happen... and that’s the best part!" She says such shows can be stressful. "I’m super lucky to have an amazing support system around me that has helped me through all the ups and downs… But yes, reality show life can be stressful! My family keeps me grounded and always reminds me of what’s important." As for the future of the shows, "I don’t think reality TV will ever end anytime soon!" she says. "Sometimes, reality shows can be quite similar to others, so maybe that explains the boredom that viewers are having.” The stroke survivor agrees that the mental health aspects are affecting people's viewing choices. "I do think people are a bit worried but
aftercare protocols are now being put into place, which is so important!" "I think reality shows will continue for a very long time… I’d definitely sign up for another! I’ve been very fortunate to have been on a few where I have met some of my best friends!”
Sofia Hayat - Hollywood & Bollywood actress
Film & TV star Sofia Hayat, on the other hand, tells me she's had a terrible time taking part in reality TV. "I was in Channel 4’s ‘Bollywood star’, India’s ‘Bigg Boss’, the same one as Jade Goody, and have also been on a cooking reality show in India, like 'Come Dine With Me' here. On all the shows, you were basically asked questions pre-show about your life… selected questions by psychologists working on the show. On ‘Bollywood Star’, they asked me about my mum and the one thing I remember, and I said that my mum loved my hair and said it was the mark of a woman. They used this against me and cut my waist-length hair off to just my shoulders at a hair salon. I wore a wig for the rest of the show, but had a meltdown and ran away. Family members encouraged me to go back. Unfortunately, I did, and the show said I ran away to a 5-star hotel and made me look like a spoilt brat, when I was in deep psychological trauma."
After 'Bollywood Star', Sofia was “deeply shocked” at how she was used to create drama on a show. "Another time, they put me in a room with a teacher and we were told to scream a lot. The screams bought me back to when I was being sexually assaulted, and I couldn't stop crying for three days... There was no help or support. They just said, 'Let her cry, it's part of the process. On ‘Bigg Boss’, I was hit in the face with a mop by another contestant, a man. He called me all sorts of sexual names that were abusive. I wanted to leave but they didn’t let me. In the end, when they evicted me due to the decline in my mental health, I went to the police and it was all over the news… India’s number two news story,” she explains. “The police arrested the man after they saw the footage, but the presenter, who is very wealthy and famous, paid for him to be released. Once again, I felt like, as a woman, I was being taken advantage of. I was too scared to go to the show finale and escaped on a plane back to the UK after the show producers told me I had to be on the show again. I said I would not share a stage with a man who hit me. There is no aftercare and the shows really play on your insecurities. At one point, they sent me some anti-anxiety medication to help me. I would much rather have had support in a different way. I had a major panic attack on the show after everyone got a message from their family except me. It broke my heart, really. They did not air that episode because I was in such distress and could not breathe. They just sent in some medication.”
Sofia reckons reality shows are on the decline due to the negativity and mental health aspects. "Which are overlooked time and time again. Shows like 'Dancing on Ice' and 'Strictly' will probably be the way forward, because people are learning a skill. But then again, one of the show's selling points is the curse... couples break up, and they play this up in the media." She also believes people are bored of the "fake drama". "Reality shows have a recipe for their success, and they think that is aggression, violence, sob stories, poverty stories and sex. People are fed up with seeing these stories being played up.” "I really think people today are more
tuned into a higher vibration," she continues. "We don't want to see people competing, when we can be co-operating. We don't want to see people's mental health decline. And we don't want to see people belittling others, like they do on shows like 'The X Factor’. Putting people down was fashionable when reality shows started, but we are over it. Viewers have evolved Sofia Hayat and don't want that Credit: Earl (Stephen Santos) @wackpaper17photography anymore. Strictly's a light-hearted show and people support each other. That's what is lacking in other reality shows. We need to support each other, and the show needs to support us, the contestants, and our mental health. The press is currently going wild for Sofia’s recent film festival selection. Her short film, taken on her mobile phone during lockdown, has been selected for the Cult International Film Festival. Having become a nun following her TV & film career, she’s now being beckoned back into entertainment. Would she be up for another show? "I would definitely
do 'Dancing On Ice' or 'Strictly', because I love dancing and have always wanted to dance on ice, but I would not fall for the curse," she laughs.
Aldo Zilli - Celebrity Chef
When he’s not serving up Italian gastronomic delights from his '5-starrated Neighbourhood Kitchen' at his home CASA ZILLI in Surrey, celebrity chef Aldo Zilli can frequently be seen cooking up a storm on our screens. His extensive TV credits include being a judge on BBC One’s ‘Celebrity Masterchef’, and he has also signed up as a contestant in no fewer than three major reality shows for ITV and Channel 4.
“I did ’Celebrity Fit Club’, where I was told to lose weight or die, basically... I was so scared and managed to drop three stone in just three months,” he explains. “This was a massive mistake as I piled it all back on again as soon as it came off. So, no more drastic dieting for me.” Having gained a huge following from the show, where he led his team to victory, his experience of managing to lose weight, however, sparked a new-found passion for health and fitness, which he still maintains today. He then captivated the nation with his singing prowess and performances on taking part in the celebrity version of ‘The X Factor’ alongside three other famous chefs; JeanChristophe Novelli, Paul Rankin and the now sadly-late Ross Burden. “I named the Band Bake That!” says Aldo. “The stress of learning songs and trying to sing in Italian in front of lots of people got to me so badly that I started drinking again during the shows to calm my nerves!” His most recent reality show appearance came just before the pandemic, seeing him team up with fellow chef JeanChristophe again on ‘Celebrity Hunted’, where eight celebrity fugitives went on the run, taking on the ‘Hunted’ challenge to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer. “This is maybe the worst and most mentally-strenuous reality show on telly if you take it seriously,” award-winning Aldo tells me. “And, of course, I did, and won in the end. But it took three weeks to recover from panic attacks about been chased!”
Apron anxiety struck again… But all for a good cause though, Aldo!
Aldo Zilli & daughter Twiggy
Idris Virgo - Love Islander 2018
Idris Virgo enjoyed finding fame overnight in his first reality TV appearance. “My experience on 'Love Island' was life changing. The whole build-up before I entered the villa was incredible. The ITV team was amazing and being in the villa was a dream come true to experience, especially in the sun, surrounded by beautiful females... what a dream!!”
Now a boxer signed to Hennessy
Sports, he describes the mental health aspect of the show as "decent", and tells me, to be king of the reality ring, he thinks shows need to up their game. "I believe the producers need to spice things up regarding reality TV. Get characters like myself back on the screen!! The public is comfortable in what they know. There have been new shows that have boring characters, and the public can’t connect with them."
He thinks reality TV “has a bright future ahead… especially ‘Strictly’ and ‘I’m a Celeb…’ Would he star in another? "Yes, I would love to. I really hope they will do a 'Love Island' all-star... that would be great!"
Idris Virgo @theoraclesister
ZaraLena Jackson - Ex on the Beach star & model
ZaraLena Jackson says her experience on 'EOTB' was "horrific". "It was like being back in school but the producers
are the teachers and they want you to be bullied. There was always pressure to act up and have “drama”, and they’d tell you that other cast members have said something about you to make you react or feel a type of way. That show wasn’t for me at all, I don’t act up or have sex on platforms that my family will be watching. So, unfortunately I had a bad experience.
The wrong show at the right time, I guess."
She tells me she dealt with a lot of image issues following the show. "But that’s expected. When you expose yourself on TV, you allow the world to judge who you are and be able to say things about you, and that’s just how it is. I was picked on for my face looking like a transsexual, and told I looked like Voldemort. It wasn’t easy, and certainly pushed me to be more open to having surgery. A few weeks after the show, I didn’t want to leave the house and constantly felt I was being watched in a very strange way. I think having cameras on you 24/7 and constantly being filmed in the rooms massively made me feel anxiety and led to slight paranoia after the show.”
Shockingly, she says there was zero contact from the show following filming. "So, in my honest opinion, there was no aftercare. I think reality TV isn’t actually reality, and that’s what the nation's problem is," she explains. “These shows always have attractive cast members that too many of the 'norm tv viewers' don’t find relatable, so they don’t interact well. A lot of these shows are clearly staged, too, which stands out. Reality TV is very disposable, the people on the shows are disposable, and as soon as a new show is aired, the last stars are disposed of. I feel it’s time real people with real problems, or something that makes them unique, are encouraged in the TV world. That, after all, is reality TV."
Would she sign up for another? “I’d definitely do another now that I’m living with alopecia. Mainly because TV is the biggest platform to get awareness out there. However, before my hair loss, I probably wouldn’t have considered further TV work as it is all very fake and without purpose most of the time. That said, I don’t think reality TV shows will ever go out of style, maybe just oversaturated. After all, we all love watching reality TV!”
Shanice Croasdaile - Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up star
It's a mixed reaction from reality star Shanice Croasdaile. "It was the best thing I’ve ever done, and the most stressful thing I’ve ever done," she divulges. "Doing a reality TV competition like ‘Glow Up’ is kind of like having a child, you can guess and develop conceptions by watching from the outside, but nothing will ever prepare you for what it’s really like, until you experience it yourself.”
The make-up artist is always openly honest about her struggles with mental health. Living and breathing make-up, the passionate pro MUA is also an advocate of body positivity. "My mental health was affected quite badly after leaving the show, I can’t lie. I left quite early on, so I went back to reality, while everyone else was still filming, and that really sucked,” she tells me. “I spent a few days in bed, cried a lot, and fell into quite a deep hole of depression. Nothing can really prepare you for that kind of thing I don’t think. I’m quite a headstrong person, but that broke me."
As for the aftercare, she says it could have definitely been better. "I had gone from living in this 'out-of-reality’ environment, to being plummeted straight back into 'normal' life without warning, and felt like there was no type of safety net to help soften the blow. The BBC provided a psychiatrist we could talk to at any time, and she was lovely and helpful, but as the weeks went on and more contestants left the show, moreand-more people wanted to speak to her, so naturally, her time was stretched." "Looking back at it now, I’m grateful for all of the things I experienced, good and bad, because I thought back then, that was the end for me and my career, when in reality, it was just the beginning. I definitely didn’t see any silver lining back then, but I do now!” "I do think people are getting bored of reality TV. I personally can’t tell you the last time I watched a reality show. Things like healing, self-love and spirituality are really popular at the moment, and a lot of people are taking the time to look after themselves, especially when it comes to mental health. Programmes that are filled with arguments, gossip and drama are not as attractive to a lot of people as they used to be."
As for the future, “I see more-and-more huge reality stars coming under fire for not being authentic, and I just think a lot of people are getting bored of watching people that they can’t relate to all of the time… not everyone is glammed to the high heavens 24/7 or covered in muscles and tattoos,” she says. “I think if the script for reality shows was changed, and people who are more relatable to the wider public were shown more, then the interest would rise again. That’s one reason why I think shows like 'Glow Up' and 'Bake off' do so well, because the contestants are easy for people from all walks of life to relate to.” Would she do another? "In a heartbeat. Definitely TV over having another child! I’d absolutely go on ‘Glow Up’ again and do reality TV in general. I have interesting aspects of my personality and stories I think a lot of people would connect with, so if a show wanted a weird hippy type, who doesn’t take herself too seriously and prefers banter over drama, then call me!"
Shanice Croasdaile
Danielle Broadbent - Naked Beach contestant & body confidence podcaster
"'Naked Beach' was a great experience", says Danielle Broadbent. "I went on the show feeling quite insecure about how my body had changed since having my second child, and genuinely thought I would never be happy within it again. To appear on 'Naked Beach' we had to go through therapy and a lot of coaching from body confidence hosts, which was fantastic for me. I don’t think, though, that 'Naked Beach' was your typical reality TV show. When people think of reality TV, I think often they associate it with a bit of drama and scandal, but 'Naked Beach' was very much a feel-good show."
She says the programme assisted with her pre-show anxieties. "I wouldn’t say that the show caused me any mental health issues. I think, in all honesty, I was addressing my existing mental health issues by being on the show to begin with. After the show, I was on quite a high as I felt fabulous. I had developed this newfound confidence and was beginning to feel like my old self again. I did have one setback just before the show aired, which was more anxiety… how would the show be perceived, would I be trolled online, would people have high expectations of me now to be this super confident person 24-7 and never have an off-day? The team was really supportive though, and I have some great friends around me who also gave me a lot of reassurance.”
She agrees that the reality genre is seeing some shows showing signs of becoming stale, and are, consequently, suffering from flagging viewing figures. "I love reality TV, but I do think some shows definitely lose their spark as a lot of people have seen it all before and need something new. 'The X-Factor' was a great show for many years, and I do know that they made several attempts to switch things up a bit to get people back engaged. It’s a shame, really, it seemed to go a bit pear-shaped for me, personally, when Cheryl left.” "I love 'The Only Way Is Essex', but with TOWIE, RHOC, Love Island, for example, they have certainly had phases where things have got a little boring and a little bit same-old, and that’s when major mix-ups have been needed,” Danielle continues. “TOWIE recently axed a lot of the cast, RHOC are always adding new housewives to try to keep the drama going. The shows need to stay relevant, fresh and exciting, but most of all, I think they need to be very real if they want to keep people’s attention. I do think we live in a world now where a lot of people are sick of seeing what's deemed to be the perfect look, the perfect body, the perfect hair etc. on our screens. Is there even such a thing as the perfect person and perfect look? I think people want to see more relatable characters, authenticity is a must. I certainly think that the pandemic and lockdowns have shifted people’s mindsets massively. I personally feel that fewer people are now as consumed with how they look, and actually value more of a relaxed way of life. I know I do!
And doing my hair and make-up and getting my glam on every single day just isn’t part of my life anymore, and I do think people appreciate that realness more. Maybe 'Love Island' and other reality TV shows need more real, normal, everyday people on there!" The future of the shows? "I think that there will always be that next new reality TV show... People enjoy them and if you have relatable characters on there, I think that people buy into it much more. Depending on the show, I would certainly consider participating in another!"
Danielle Broadbent
Max McMurdo - TV upcycling guru
Supercool British designer/engineer/ entrepreneur/upcycler extraordinaire Max McMurdo is a go-to TV presenter for product design. The upcycling genius gives junk and cast-offs a completely new lease of life by transforming them into exceptionally-useful products.
Beyond passionate about the upcycling process and the idea of ‘giving back’, his extraordinary commitment to saving our planet saw multi-talented Max create a booming business utilising waste destined for landfill, designing, engineering and manufacturing bespoke creations from junk, transforming trash into high-end furniture with the aim of proving that upcycled furniture, accessories and ecofriendly products from objects destined for landfill can be turned into treasures that are contemporary, stylish and desirable.
No stranger to our screens, Max’s first TV appearance saw him face the Dragons as he entered the BBC’s fiery ‘Dragons Den’ with his company, plus a few of his innovate products, including a carrier bag recycling bin, in hand. Quickly snapped up by the BAFTA-nominated show’s investors Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis following his perfect pitch, Max coolly left ‘The Den’ £50k in backing better off. With their investment and input, Max and his Reestore brand grew to be among the UK’s most respected and renowned designers and manufacturers of upcycled products.
“I think we are all influencers,” forever humble Max tells me. With modern social media, we all have the opportunity to inform, educate and inspire others to make better decisions.”
Having been catapulted to fame with his sustainable ideas, the spotlight and the investment injection have seen him rise from a hobbyist to fame and, before long, Max turned his hand to TV presenting, alongside acclaimed architect George Clarke on his highly-successful ‘Amazing Spaces’ and ‘Shed of the ‘Year" on Channel 4. A crafty Kirstie Allsopp soon snapped up Max, too, whisking him away to more sustainable TV stardom, working alongside her on ‘Fill Your House For Free’, before she handed over the repurposing reigns to Gok Wan, seeing Max continue on the show with the gifted fashion guru’s team of upcycling experts, including ‘The Repair Shop’s’ Jay Blades, encouraging Britain’s families to embrace saving the pennies, and the planet, through easy upcycling.
Max reveals the reality of reality shows. “Long days, less pay than people imagine and a very intense environment. Very tough for a creative person who is used to designing and make everything in their own workshop to a high standard.”
“I’ve been involved in over 100 shows and have never been officially offered any aftercare,” he tells me. “That said, the team spirit and camaraderie is usually amazing; one united team working on tight deadlines and budgets creates a real supportive community spirit.”
He explains how, with experience, you start to realise that it’s only TV. “There are bigger issues going on in the world. I try to remind myself to relax and enjoy the experience.”
As well as starring on 'Find It, Fix it, Flog it', where restoration supremo Max yet again illustrated how to turn unwanted trash into treasure, the go-to presenter for product design and repurposing, the mental health advocate is working on big-scale ecoprojects for his OUTLANDISH Campers brand “It’s a range of sustainable motorhomes and campervans to encourage people to be environmentally friendly and explore this beautiful planet,” says the sustainability champion. “I’m loving anything that promotes mental health through the opportunities adventuring, exploring and glamping have to offer. Getting back to nature and breathing are so good for the soul in this manic, stressful time. My new range of Campervans are going to, hopefully, enable those who may not currently think it possible to get out and enjoy what nature has to offer.”
Passionate about helping the next generation, Max has also been busy with his BOTL BLOX project, too, using recycled plastic as insulated building blocks for new schools in Kenya. He also assists UK schools in his mission to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and eco warriors and has also campaigned with rapper Professor Green.
Why are reality show viewing figures dwindling? “I’m sure the negativity surrounding mental health plays a part,” says Max. “However, I would predict that the growing number of people able to reach their audience through social media and YouTube means they no longer need to be on traditional TV shows. My shows are more factual entertainment than reality, and I’m making a conscious effort to stay away from TV and move towards YouTube, partly for my own mental health, partly to give me more control over timescales and budgets, and partly to reach the right demographic who are no longer tuning in to traditional TV channels.”
SHAZIA MIRZA Cedit: Amelia Troubridge Photography
Shazia Mirza - TV comedian and star of The Island Being abandoned on a remote desert island in the Pacific by Bear Grylls proved no laughing matter for comedian Shazia Mirza. “It was 10 times worse than what you saw on TV… I had some of the worst nights of my life there. But I realised that you don't know how strong you are until being strong is the only option. It’s a test of mental strength, but there were times when you just had to stop thinking and get on with things.” Pushed to their physical and mental limits, the contestants endured many days without food. “Survival is an ongoing situation so, even though you catch food, you still have another 28 days to survive and you need to keep catching food and surviving. So, you get excited, but it's short lived.” Having at one point exclaimed, “I feel how Christopher Columbus felt
on discovering America!”, she later likened her experience of a mini tsunami to the Vietnam War. “The highs were very high, but the lows were very low, and they soon bring you back down to earth.”
Driven by desperation, determined Shazia became ‘The Island’s warrior. No-one, it seems, was amused in such an unforgiving place. “On the island, there was no laughter… we didn't laugh once. It was strange… We were struggling all the time, lying awake at night with nothing to do, thinking about your life, what you're going to do and change when you get out… Being alone with your thoughts at night for such long periods of time was hard, like being in solitary confinement.”
After a month of dehydration, starvation, coconut-dodging and being dashed against rocks (knocking her unconscious), Shazia was one of the final six stranded contestants who survived to the end. The comedy queen’s travels and gruelling island experience have served as a source of inspiration for material for her sell-out shows. “Once you've survived ‘The Island’, you can do anything in life!”
Flavia Cacace-Mistry & Jimi Mistry - Strictly Come Dancing stars
Former ‘Strictly’ pro and Surreyite Flavia Cacace sashayed her spectacularlysequined way into our living rooms on Saturday nights to become one of the hit TV show’s best-loved professional dancers. Performing on ‘Strictly’ for ‘SEVEN!’ ‘tantastic’ years, winning not only the nation’s hearts with her bubbly character and infectious enthusiasm, but clinching the coveted competition’s crown in 2012 with Olympic gymnast, Louis Smith, Flavia also won the 2013 Christmas Special with comedian/actor/ presenter Rufus Hound, and the ‘Children in Need People’s Champion’ trophy with Russell Grant.
“My favourite moment was when Russell and I performed our Jive at Wembley and he was launched out of a cannon!” she tells me. “It won ‘TV Moment of the Year’ at the National TV Awards.”
The accomplished dancer says she loved her star-studded time on ‘Strictly’. “The opportunity to share our style of dancing with so many people I wouldn’t otherwise been able to reach, and choreographing and performing routines alongside A-list musicians, including Beyoncé and Westlife.” How did it feel to win the Strictly Glitterball Trophy with the Olympic gymnast? “One word… AMAZING’!!” says the dazzling, Neopolitan dance star.
‘Strictly’ aside, the multi-award-winning
dance champ was painted by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on BBC’s ‘Celebrity Painting Challenge’.
How was her Hollywood husband Jimi’s experience of ‘Strictly’, where he foxtrotted into Flavia’s life with his fancy footwork as her celebrity dance partner, leading to them to them waltzing down the aisle in 2013? “’Strictly’ was an incredible experience that certainly changed my life in more ways than one!” he tells me.
Having triumphed on TV, the silver screen and the stage, Flavia and Jimi recently swapped the spotlight to live an off-grid lifestyle on their Devon farm, with Flavia still returning regularly to Surrey to teach dance classes.
So, it looks like dedicated ‘Dancing
On Ice’ and sensational ‘Strictly’ stars will keeeeeep dancing… But what’s Flavia's take on the so-called ‘Strictly curse’? “It’s a blessing in my eyes, as I met my husband over 10 years ago and am as happy as can be!” she laughs.
