I think we need to have a serious look at why it is that people see success as having gone on to one of these shows and becoming a “celebrity” as a result.
Back in the days of x-factor I remember contestants in the audition rounds talking about how this was their life, how they didn’t want to go back to waiting on tables etc, when in truth there’s nothing wrong with just having a job and most will never find fame on these programmes.
I think that it is very evident that the kinds of people who apply to go on these programmes are people who already have low self worth and see this as an opportunity to become accepted and when that doesn’t happen, for some, it pushes them over the edge.
They likely already had MH issues and going on one of these shows won’t have helped.
I think all reality tv has had its day tbh. Love island, gogglebox, towie, made in Chelsea, And I’m a celebrity/has been ” as generally this is just full of wannabe’s who came from all the above shows. I’m sure there are more.
I also think that people need to ask themselves why they feel the need to watch this kind of drivel and why they get enjoyment from people being pitted against each other in this way or, in the case of the tv talent shows, being humiliated for entertainment value (they have to go through several auditions to get to the point where they’re going to be laughed at so it’s very deliberate on the part of the production teams.).
I have never watched love island in my life and have no intentions of doing so ever because it’s absolute shite, you only have to read about it or seeeee a trailer to know that. And I was horrified that it is apparently so popular that they commissioned a second series in the year.
So yes, I think it needs to be scrapped, and all the other shite out there as well.