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Original poster

To think reality shows of the early 2000s have not aged well! Doing a rewatch

334 replies

Imcomingovertoyourplace · 30/05/2025 08:35

So far I’ve watched
Playing it Straight (the homophobia is rife!)
Fat Families (just horrific, ‘lard busting’ and shaming overweight kids)
Big Fat Gypsy Weddings (did the producers never want to intervene with what is essentially child abuse?)

OP posts:
HarperStern · 30/05/2025 09:39

Oh God, yes, that episode with the poor toddler imprisoned in her cot was the worst.

HarperStern · 30/05/2025 09:37

I remember the first episode of Wife Swap with a thick racist couple swapping with a black couple. Car crash awfulness.

JudgeJ · 30/05/2025 09:37

StepawayfromtheLindors · 30/05/2025 08:51

I always wondered why there was never an Educating Surrey or Educating Oxfordshire….hmmm can’t possibly think why…

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Maybe those places don't have problem schools or families and are so perfect???

Hollieandtheivie · 30/05/2025 09:35

Tigergirl80 · 30/05/2025 09:17

Supersize versus super skinny.

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I still think about that clear tube years later. I'm pretty sensible when it comes to food and body image, but if I've over indulged that tube does come into mind.

Coffeeishot · 30/05/2025 09:34

dayslikethese1 · 30/05/2025 09:23

Trinny and Susana always dressed everyone exactly the same, it was always a long tan coat and bootcut trousers, oh and a heel of course because the participants/victims had to look 'feminine'😁

Wasn't it a "Trouser" 😀 yes everyone of them had to look feminine

JudgeJ · 30/05/2025 09:34

Imcomingovertoyourplace · 30/05/2025 08:35

So far I’ve watched
Playing it Straight (the homophobia is rife!)
Fat Families (just horrific, ‘lard busting’ and shaming overweight kids)
Big Fat Gypsy Weddings (did the producers never want to intervene with what is essentially child abuse?)

All 'reality' programmes are dire, cheap programme making. Some may start well with relatively normal people but then become the casting couch for wannabes!

Puzzledandpissedoff · 30/05/2025 09:29

I didn't see any of these, but there was a pretty good one where people swapped jobs for a period, and after they'd learned the ropes a panel were invited to pick the one who was new to the task

I can't remember what it was called, but there was an amazing lass - a classical cellist - who learned to be an Ibiza DJ and was absolutely brilliant

justgoandgetpizza · 30/05/2025 09:27

Koalafan · 30/05/2025 09:16

I thought everyone realised that many 'reality' shows were actually largely scripted and/or exploited people.

And I thought everyone realised not everyone has that level of intelligence! Come on - soap stars have been verbally abused in the street for having an affair or something when it was their character!

I think Bake Off was the start of a gentler sort of reality programme: still lots of fun and enjoyable but no humiliation or drama, just great cakes.

I remember an interview with a young woman who appeared on X Factor. She had a job on the side singing in bars as a Pink impersonator and was approached to say they thought she was great and why didn’t she do X Factor. She appeared and the judges were awful to her, and she became upset, lost her temper and shoved a member of production which clearly isn’t acceptable but she went into it thinking she was going to be a star and came out with a criminal record. Horrible really.

Jb2182 · 30/05/2025 09:27

Does anyone remember 'A shot at love with Tila Tequila'? That was a weird one!

dayslikethese1 · 30/05/2025 09:27

10 Years Younger was horrible, just pushing cosmetic surgery all the time. I kind of miss makeover shows where they dress people though, that format could probably be updated for now with more of a focus on ppls personal style.

Tigergirl80 · 30/05/2025 09:27

Simonjt · 30/05/2025 09:22

There was a particularly awful episode of wife swap where a toddler was being severely neglected by her parents, that was an awful watch.

Yes she was left in her cot until 1pm while her mum stayed in bed. Then sat on the computer all day while the baby was chucked a packet of crisps. She has 5 kids now and still with the husband. Kerry who she did wife swap with has been on TikTok. She’s been in touch with Kelly and the daughter Georgina.

BoredZelda · 30/05/2025 09:26

Koalafan · 30/05/2025 09:16

I thought everyone realised that many 'reality' shows were actually largely scripted and/or exploited people.

Sure, but the point is more that the subject matter of the shows was wildly inappropriate. HTH.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 30/05/2025 09:26

Bubbles456 · 30/05/2025 09:25

How to look 10 years younger or something I think?

Some of the makeovers were hilarious, have seen clips go viral in recent years for how bad they were!

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Yes! Thank you, that was doing my head in.

Disturbia81 · 30/05/2025 09:25

I do like watching them to see how normal and natural everyone looked, and they weren’t all fame hungry and empty headed then

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 30/05/2025 09:25

Coffeeishot · 30/05/2025 08:48

Aww I liked the educating programmes the Yorkshire one especially,

Me too. I had a bit of a thing for the Yorkshire headteacher. And the iconic moment that the boy with the stammer is able to speak fluently...😭.

Bubbles456 · 30/05/2025 09:25

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 30/05/2025 09:17

Agree. I felt uncomfortable with it at the time so would probably be bursting blood vessels if I watched it now.

I'm trying to remember what the name was of a show on around the same time where people used to go on and get actual plastic surgery done, usually to their face. They very rarely looked like they needed it (or looked better afterwards) and I used to think that surely some therapy would have served them better.

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How to look 10 years younger or something I think?

Some of the makeovers were hilarious, have seen clips go viral in recent years for how bad they were!

dayslikethese1 · 30/05/2025 09:24

The Swan was the worst. See also 'I Want A Famous Face'.

Tigergirl80 · 30/05/2025 09:23

Loved holiday showdown who remembers honey we’re killing the kids?

dayslikethese1 · 30/05/2025 09:23

Trinny and Susana always dressed everyone exactly the same, it was always a long tan coat and bootcut trousers, oh and a heel of course because the participants/victims had to look 'feminine'😁

Simonjt · 30/05/2025 09:22

There was a particularly awful episode of wife swap where a toddler was being severely neglected by her parents, that was an awful watch.

Jb2182 · 30/05/2025 09:22

Where did you rewatch Playing it Straight @Imcomingovertoyourplace ? I've been thinking about that programme for ages! I remember absolutely loving it but would probably see it differently now!

Ramblethroughthebrambles · 30/05/2025 09:20

Coffeeishot · 30/05/2025 08:48

Aww I liked the educating programmes the Yorkshire one especially,

I liked that too and I'm in Yorkshire. Not sure if I'm remembering it through rose tinted glasses but it seemed respectful - real but as if we were all rooting for the kids rather than laughing at everyone. Hope they felt the same. There were some characters on there - pupils and teachers. @StepawayfromtheLindors I'm sure you're right that there was a snobbery/ anti-northern prejudice element in the title, but I think the producers also realized there's a cultural norm here to be a bit more blunt, which was what was so great about it.

Goandygo · 30/05/2025 09:19

Koalafan · 30/05/2025 09:16

I thought everyone realised that many 'reality' shows were actually largely scripted and/or exploited people.

We do now, but we didn't at the time.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 30/05/2025 09:17

Coffeeishot · 30/05/2025 09:07

Going back a bit further how to look good naked was horrific wasn't it? Gok wan going on about "bangers" and girlfriending every other word ! Trinny and Suzanna were equally terrible.

Agree. I felt uncomfortable with it at the time so would probably be bursting blood vessels if I watched it now.

I'm trying to remember what the name was of a show on around the same time where people used to go on and get actual plastic surgery done, usually to their face. They very rarely looked like they needed it (or looked better afterwards) and I used to think that surely some therapy would have served them better.

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