Has reality TV just gone too far?
or does it?!
10 year old Hollie Steel was chucked head first into the spotlight when see wowed the nation on Britain’s Got Talent singing, but it was after see broke down on stage that the media really got their teeth into her story. Then just days later Susan Boyle, an unemployed Scottish lady was reported to be severely suffering from the strains and stresses of fame. The programme reported that she was just tired, however questions were once again raised when Susan checked into the Priory, London. Do many people head to one of the best hospitals when they are just overtired?!
The magnitude of this years trauma seen on the programme aroused questions from all angles as to wether reality TV had overstepped the line and gone just too far?
The odd person may say yes, however the masses say no. Looking back at the audience viewing figures from that week it becomes apparent that the British public just love watching their nation perform! On the final week of the series this year, Britain’s got Talent claimed the top 6 spots in the audience viewing figures for every television channel broadcasting in the UK. The Final Results programme was watched by 18.29 million people. One has to go back to 2006 to find a programme matching that, which to no amazement is England vs Sweden’s world cup football match.
When looking at the programme ratings in detail from the past couple of years it becomes very apparent that the X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent receive the biggest share of the years viewings. Both are broadcast early Saturday evening on ITV 1.
Any television company would therefore not take a second thought at axing these money spinning programmes. It is undoubted that the makers of Britain’s Got Talent love the coverage that their participants receive, but still toady many are questioning if more could be done to check their contestants are in a good enough mental health state before allowing them onto the stage and into the media spotlight.
You can hear Ben talking about this and more on Bristol Community 93.2 FM on Monday 15th June 2009 from 1700.
