Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk. With Aviva Insurance. Now we move to reality TV, which seems to be getting more and more extreme with every series of every show. The latest Married at First Sight UK scandal has raised serious questions about exploitation and duty of care and whether reality TV has just crossed the line.
Well, I'm joined now by Daisy Goodwin, British screenwriter, television producer and New York Times bestselling novelist for more on this. Daisy, thank you for being with us. Good morning.
Thank you.
Good morning.
Chapter 2: What recent scandal raised questions about reality TV ethics?
So this was where you worked. This was your, your thing at one point.
Yeah. I, I, I made a lot of TV shows in the early noughties. And, um, when things were, I have to say quite bad, I mean, they had shows like America's Next Top Model and, um, something about Miriam. I don't know if you remember that. Oh, yes.
Yes.
Yes. Miriam turned out to be a trans woman. Um, And that was, you know, so, so there were pretty extreme shows then. And I, in fact, one of the reasons I left making that, stopped making that kind of TV was that I, I just, I couldn't go there. You know, they would always say, and are they going to have sex? And I go, well, I don't think so. So I wasn't really cut out for it.
But now I think it's got really, really bad. And I'm so shocked by the scandal surrounding Married at First Sight.
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Chapter 3: How has reality TV evolved over the years?
And, you know, it's a two-pronged thing because it's, you know, it's a really popular show. And I just have to worry about, A, I feel really worried about everybody who takes part in it because I think it's quite damaging to
a particular experiment, but also I slightly worry about people watching it because are they not looking at the people on the show and thinking actually those are human beings? It's almost as if it's become reality TV has become a computer game. that the people in it are not real people.
Because, you know, if it was your best friend and she was in that show, you would be really worried about her, wouldn't you? Absolutely.
Just the very premise of the show. You know, I don't think many of us sit down and think about the ethics of a reality TV show until something like this happens. And then you think, well, was this ever ethical to throw two people together, legally bind them and then send them off into the world as husband and wife?
No, there's no ethical defense. I suppose the program makers would say, well, we match them very carefully and they wanted to find partners, et cetera, et cetera. But the problem is that the people who apply to be on these shows are often looking for something in their life and they are sometimes not the most stable characters. So you are taking people, putting them in a show where
It's heightened reality. They're not living in a real world. And they, you know, they can feel very isolated. And I think it can trigger them in all kinds of unfortunate ways. And, you know, for anyone being on television is a big deal. But especially if you are not completely, you know, your mental health is a little dodgy. then to go on to one of those shows is only going to make it work.
I mean, to be honest.
Sorry, Daisy, to interrupt you. But just as you're saying that, you know, that people might be vulnerable going into these shows. Is it not the job of the vetting procedure to spot those people who have mental health difficulties and stop them?
Well, you know, if the vetting people were that good, you know, I mean, vetting is a very subjective thing.
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Chapter 4: What are the potential dangers of participating in reality TV?
But they're not being put into positions where they're actually going to be raped, you know, or sexually assaulted. Yes, I mean... Yes, I see what you mean about traitors. I mean, here's the thing. Any show where somebody goes on and they haven't been on television before is, I mean, I'm not worried about celebrity traitors because they're all, you know, they're in the game.
Yeah. They're in the business.
Yeah. No, I agree. I suppose punters, but I suppose it's not the same. It's not the same as, you know, they're not actually. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you could argue it either way. I feel the trait is less exploitative in a way.
All right. Well, Daisy, we'll leave it there for now. But it's been really interesting to talk to you. Daisy Goodwin, who has worked on these programmes, but has now moved on as a screenwriter, former television producer and New York Times bestselling novelist. Coming up. The Clare Byrne Show with Aviva Insurance. Weekday mornings at nine on News Talk. Conversation that counts.