Reality TV pushes people to their limits for maximum entertainment

With the return of Married at First Sight UK, it has got me thinking about reality TV shows. Programmes such as Married at First Sight and Love Island are watched by millions of people as they provide great escapism and entertainment, but this comes at a price for the contestants. 

Every show has different guidelines and each has different problems. Some supply participants with an almost unlimited supply of alcohol, keep them up really late causing sleep deprivation, or create completely unrealistic situations and expectations, or combine all of the above. Mix this with being forced into a room full of people that are seen as competition and it’s guaranteed drama. They make out as if these people are just left to it and the camera operators and producers are uninvolved, but it is so clear to see that the contestants are prompted on what they have to talk about and what they should be doing. This means that the participants are forced into conversations that make them uncomfortable or unhappy – such as the ‘twist or stick’ questions on MAFS – just because they are made to believe that, if they do not participate in these conversations, they are jeopardising the integrity of the experiment. 

Although I have many problems with these types of shows, you can still find me at 9pm every night getting ready to watch the drama unfold. It’s so easy to get sucked into the drama as they are so easy to watch but, this year more than any series before, I have noticed just how unrealistic they are. 

One of the main things that I have noticed during this series of Married at First Sight so far is that they always have a drink in their hand. Whether they are just sitting in their kitchen or at the dinner party, everyone has always got a topped-up glass. Not only does this cause health problems, but it completely heightens emotions. The more and more contestants drink, they become louder, more emotional and more confrontational. Although this is great when you are sitting on your couch watching the show, sometimes you need to remind yourself that these are real people. They are not acting all of these emotions. They are being pushed to breaking point. 

Reality TV shows are so cleverly edited to manipulate viewers into loving or hating different people, depending on how they want you to see them. Many people are made into villains even though they have done nothing wrong, simply because the producers need some extra drama that night. This is so unfair on the participants because, as the show is being aired, these people are often back in their homes and getting targeted online. 

When filming, the participants’ sense of reality must be completely warped. So to come out and be targeted by millions of people must have a huge impact on their mental health, especially if they haven’t even done anything and it is just the producers twisting the truth. 

I’m not going to lie, I do love a bit of reality TV. Between all of the cringe-worthy moments, seeing the relationships grow between couples, the drama of the dinner parties, and the school-like arguments at commitment ceremonies, I love watching it to unwind and escape the real world for a bit. However, I do also believe that it needs to be recognised more often that these are real people who, whatever their motives, have put themselves out there to go on TV. They don’t deserve the abuse that they receive as the episodes air. After all, reality TV is very rarely reality.