Dear reality TV producers, first off, I love your work but I have one small (okay, a big) request: please stop casting famous people in every series. Reality TV is made up of interesting, complex characters with normal backgrounds, yet you all seem to be filling your casts with ex-reality TV stars and actors who are, well, kind of famous. If Joey Essex hasn't been in the most recent series, Love Islandit is the original neighbor Actors appearing in the next series Married at First Sight, Australia.If it wasn't them, it was the former Traitors Competitors trying to find love across the ocean Love Island USAHonestly, this needs to stop.
Some of the most talked-about reality TV shows of the past two decades were created by people who were hardly famous when they first appeared on our screens. Love Island Olivia Atwood and Carla Delahoyde Massey (née Delahoyde) became walking memes simply by being themselves: they didn't need to live up to past notoriety to become iconic, or, like Allison Hammond, burst onto our 20th Century Fox TV screens. older brother She captured our hearts while smashing tables in 2002. Her infectious energy and warm heart made her feel familiar and approachable, and you could see her instantly and not have to be already recognized.
Yet rather than trying to find the next Hammond or Atwood, casting teams are turning their attention to people who already have a platform. And to an extent, I understand. The market for reality TV, especially dating shows, is ever-widening, and broadcasters need something to stand out. Don't get me wrong, I was surprised when Joey Essex turned up next to Maya Jama on the first day. But the novelty quickly wore off, and instead, I started thinking about the next Kem Cetinay or Chris Hughes that we missed out on, instead of the 33-year-old Essex lad who's been on every reality show since 2011.
And while the cast is still made up of “normal” people, Joey feels like he's getting the most attention as the main character. Love Island Have you ever felt like Joey Essex Island?
Reality TV needs “normal” people — not just for the sake of diversity representation (though that's a whole other issue) but purely for entertainment value. People who are used to being famous often feel like they're typecast as characters — they know exactly how to say and act to get more screen time, which makes us question the veracity of their actions and feelings.
In contrast, last year older brother And two seasons Traitors Proved successfulThe mix of characters from all walks of life makes this a show we could talk about for days. I still remember Diane's famous line from season two: “But Ross…” Traitors. But do we remember Joey Essex's many appearances on the terrace?
former Home and Away Actress Madeleine last year MAFS Australia
I'm not the only one who's unhappy. Many fans have taken to social media to criticize the two former reality TV stars and neighbor The actor will take part in the next series MAFS Australia.
“first Home and Away Actress…Currently neighbor “Actors…please #MAFSAustralia serve the public,” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, another user posted on Instagram: “This show has become about launching a career instead of finding love.”
Another person commented: “Maybe there were less 'normal' applicants back then? We all love watching car crash shows, but it would have been better if they were normal people with normal bodies and faces, not 100k+ followers or 'influencers'.”
And they're right – surely there are other people in Australia who don't want to rack up Instagram followers but are still looking for love?
Of course, there will always be contestants who want to be on TV and launch their careers into the spotlight, but a show with regular, everyday people who have never been famous is much more likely to produce raw emotion and funny moments, without fast-fashion contracts they must uphold by speaking up, or secret partners on the outside who can't fully commit to love.
Instead, we will see television shows that portray society and create some truly iconic television moments.
Senior Entertainment & Lifestyle Writer
Lydia Venn is a Senior Entertainment & Lifestyle Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. She covers all topics from to the latest celeb news. She also writes regularly for the Work & Life section, highlighting exciting new releases and sharing the latest must-haves. In her previous roles, she has interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared in an episode of . After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Exeter, Lydia went into journalism, contributing to , before working as Features Editor for , and speaking on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her spare time she re-watches Real Housewives with a margarita in hand. Find her on .
