BBC Sounds - Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV

The dumbest genre in entertainment, or the one that tells us the most about ourselves?

How Britain’s first ‘official’ reality show became a global phenomenon.

How three men called Simon are responsible for the gold rush of talent shows.

How the explosion of reality TV in the early 2000s caused ethics to fly out the window.

How the rise of cosmetic surgery collided with reality TV.

The shows that birthed reality’s first wave of lifestyle influencers.

America’s First Family and how they created an entirely new category of uber-celebrity.

How these BAFTA-winning reality shows became national treasures.

Property porn, toxic wealth, and why audiences want schadenfreude.

How Love Island became a finishing school for influencers and a commercial juggernaut.

How one of TV’s most popular shows became mired in tragedy and controversy.

BBC Sounds - Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV - Available Episodes