The 90s docusoaps craze.

[AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta]

Inspired by a thread about old telly shows got me thinking about the 90s docusoaps and my god there were so many of them.

The Cruise (which gave us the fab Jane McDonald)
Holiday Reps
Airport
Hotel
Lakesiders.
Vets in practice.
Driving school.

It all seems so random now, I know the shows documenting the emergency services shows are still popular these days but I cannot imagine now sitting down watching someone's day working in a department store or taking their driving lesson. But me and 10 million other people used to do just that. Different times!

I'm not sure if it was docusoap or reality, or both, but Sylvania Waters must have been one of the first in the UK, even if it was Australian. It used to be on about 7pm while I was doing homework. I don't recall a lot about. From 1992, according to Google.

I recently found Britain's Worst Driver on YouTube and rewatched every episode. I think it might've been more early 00s and not a docusoap as such but deserves honourable mention!

I remember that. Was it Quentin Wilson?

Who remembers Sylvanian waters ?!

Yes I do. It had Bianca Gascoigne & Calum Best on it. It seemed to have more Big Brother vibes.

Paul Danan was on it twice I think.

Some of these programmes were brilliant.

I don't think it's been mentioned but there was one about a hotel in Devon/Cornwall. It was micro managed by a middle aged man who drove a jaguar I think. I can't recall much else otherwise I'd Google it.

Me, I asked the same thing earlier.

That sounds like "The Hotel" in Torquay, with Mark Jenkins.

@Sonowimbackfromouterspace yes that's right, loved when even he seemed totally pissed off being driven round the Champs Elysees (sp) by the older gentleman who really shouldn't have been driving!

Loved the hotel so funny

Probably a bit more in the documentary camp, but not without its characters, I found and rewatched all of Ibiza Uncovered during lockdown. The first time I watched it I thought it was incredibly cool. Older me, not so much.

I loved Airline and Airport. I work with some people now who apparently used it as a blueprint for their professional interactions.

@AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta @Thevelvelletes I remember Brat Camp, although I think it was later than the 90s. There was plenty of footage of the privileged teenagers screaming at their parents in their posh voices. In the camp, the teenagers were subjected to a "mouse" regime, for which they only had very basic food. To mark this regime, they were blindfolded and stood in a circle, and told to imagine that they were a mouse. They were then seen muttering about how peculiar this ceremony was, how their hamsters had better food than this, and one of them kept a rolled up paper in her mouth, as it was the nearest she could get to her usual spliff. They could progress to nicer food for good behaviour.

I liked these programmes at first, but I remember noticing as a sceptical teenager how they always wrapped up to a "satisfactory" conclusion, and so were probably not as real as they looked.

Lakesiders about the lakeside shopping centre was good and I liked the Airport ones too

The Fucking Fulfords (I think it was called 😂)

I used to love Airport.

I clearly remember Paddington Green, but I only remember Jackie. I was a young and unworldly rural girl, I’d never seen urban poverty before. I couldn’t believe the bedsit she lived in.

I loved Paddington Green, there were some really eccentric characters.

Does anyone remember Made in Manchester which had the staff of the Darbar curry house in Rusholme and the hair salon in Burnage?

Also not a docusoap but I love X Cars about the traffic police in Manchester. They had a Ford Escort Cosworth?

There was one set in Manchester I think about a load of students house sharing.

Yea! And Paul danan kept crying

For all those who remember The Call Centre - sadly Nev died in 2021

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/nev-wilshire-call-centre-dead-22434743.amp

Wait, these were in the 90s?!!! I could have sworn they were only a few years ago. How is this possible?

The ones in my OP? Yep all 90s I'm afraid 🥴

God that makes me feel old. When the year 2000 feels like 14 years ago...😱

What a great thread. Thanks op and pp for unlocking forgotten memories. I loved the hotel with Mark. Watched them all recently on YouTube. Wish they would bring these types of programs back.

There is a very soft spot in my heart for Castaway 2000 whilst pregnant. Felt a bit 'odd' whilst watching and then had something I thought may be a contradiction (first child). Half an hour later was clearly getting regular contractions and first son was born following day.

Just remember the previous evening vividly.