Podcast review: Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV

Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV is presented and produced by two BBC journalists, Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale. The pair delve into the weird and wonderful world of reality television from the early 2000's to today.

The episodes look at reality television through an analytical lens whilst also endearing the listeners through sound bites of some of the most iconic moments from the genre.

The discussion ranges from the origins of reality television and questions the ethics, values and controversial decisions of some of the most popular shows like The Hills, Keeping up with the Kardashians and Love Island. These analytical perspectives criticise our favourite reality shows as they address topics such as cosmetic surgery, abusive relationships on screen and the super-rich.

This podcast stood out to me as I am guilty of investing in random people's glamorous lives on TV and religiously following the drama. The high level of research and time spent on the podcast kept me listening. Both presenters ask tricky questions with stars from different shows and producers that expose the techniques used in reality television and explain why so many people tune in.

The podcast led with nostalgia but also some melancholic opinions. Many of the stars spoke out about how many of these shows were the first of their kind, leading to a lack of education about what the show would consist of.

Production teams have also been targeted after a lack of aftercare for mental health after airing reality programmes, including Love Island and Made in Chelsea.

Reality television and social media go hand in hand. The genre has created a new era of celebrity where stars are contactable through their social media platforms. But on the other hand, these stars are exposed to harmful trolling. The topic of mental health is prevalent throughout the podcast series, which I felt was essential when discussing the discourse of reality television nowadays.

Reality television allows us to escape from daily life and explore an aesthetic, detached reality which we find entertaining. However, hearing a range of voices highlighted how the genre is not just roses.

Edited by Jemma Snowdon