| Some of us love to watch television shows | | | | very same experience. Regardless of whether |
| featuring people who think they can sing but | | | | they are trying to dance, cook, sing or anything |
| can’t. Others like to watch celebrities trying to | | | | else, we love them for the fact that they are |
| dance when they have two left feet. Still more | | | | trying. |
| sat and watched years ago when everyday | | | | Of course these shows also open the door to |
| people were trying – and mostly failing – | | | | potential new careers for some people. Reality |
| to pass their driving test. | | | | television shows see everyday people winning the |
| It doesn’t matter what the subject of each | | | | big prize at the end of the series. We think that if |
| show is about, they all have one thing in common. | | | | it could happen to one person, it could well happen |
| They all deal in reality. | | | | to us too. As such a reality programme can open |
| There are no characters here to love or hate | | | | the door on our own potential. We may not get |
| – not in the usual sense anyway. There are | | | | out there on television for the whole country to |
| no plots, and there isn’t generally a script | | | | see us, but it can still have an effect. |
| either. In the world of reality television things can | | | | Even the celebrity populated shows are exciting |
| be pre-recorded or they can be live. In either | | | | because they allow us to see those celebrities in a |
| case we get to see what happened in real life, | | | | different light. Taken out of their usual career or |
| and not what a scriptwriter thought should | | | | role and put into a different situation, we get to |
| happen. | | | | see how they cope with it. Many celebrities have |
| This is one of the main reasons why reality | | | | seen their careers become even more successful |
| television programmes are so well loved. They | | | | after a stint on a reality TV show. Of course |
| can make us cringe, but they can also inspire us in | | | | many formerly obscure people have become |
| lots of different ways. | | | | famous after taking part as well. |
| Who hasn’t dreamed of being a pop star or | | | | Whether you watch these shows on the BBC, |
| movie star? Who hasn’t thought about what | | | | Sky Television or any other channel, one thing is |
| it would be like to be plucked from our everyday | | | | certain - their popular virtually guarantees they will |
| lives and put on the West End stage or suddenly | | | | be around for a long time to come yet. The only |
| made famous in some way? | | | | question is how many more changes the format |
| It may not happen to us, but these programmes | | | | will go through before we run out of ideas. |
| make it possible to watch other people living that | | | | |