A former producer behind the Bafta award-winning reality show The Only Way Is Essex has criticised the 'snobbery' surrounding the show's Bafta win.
Daran Little, who was in charge of bringing out the 'drama and comedy', said the show followed on naturally from the likes of Big Brother and that its 'scripted reality' format was here to stay.
The ITV2 show won the viewers' choice category at the TV awards this month.
Daran Little, who was in charge of bringing out the 'drama and comedy', said the show followed on naturally from the likes of Big Brother and that its 'scripted reality' format was here to stay.
The ITV2 show won the viewers' choice category at the TV awards this month.
Essex girls leading the way: The Only Way Is Essex stars (left to right) Amy Childs, Lauren Goodger, Lydia Bright and Sam Faiers lead the glamour at the Bafta Television Awards
Mr Little told the Radio Times: 'I was surprised by the snobbery surrounding the triumph of TOWIE (as it's called by its fans), a series about a group of Essex 20-somethings.
'If fans want to show their appreciation by voting for it, what's the problem? Maybe it's because it seems that viewers want to wallow in the lives of "ordinary" people, to laugh at their stupidity and shout out their catchphrases. 'After all, isn't this the next evolution of Big Brother? To film fame-hungry but seemingly talentless young people in their natural environment rather than in one big house?'
TOWIE follows the lives of a group of perma-tanned Essex residents who have brought vajazzles and phrases such as 'well jel' and 'reem' to the masses.
It has drawn audiences of nearly one million viewers in the second series which saw long-time lothario Mark Wright ask his on-off girlfriend Lauren Goodger to marry him.
Sparking a trend: Amy Childs applies a 'vajazzle' to Sam Faiers on the hit ITV2 show
Little, who picked up a Bafta for penning drama The Road To Coronation Street, said: 'Maybe, just maybe, in 50 years' time it'll be just as hard to imagine life without structured reality shows.'
He left The Only Way Is Essex after the first series but went on to story-produce E4 show Made In Chelsea, which follows socialites on and around London's King's Road.
He said: 'For me, Chelsea is a different show to TOWIE.
'Last week a guy broke the news to his girlfriend that things weren't working out and he wanted to finish it.
'She had no idea it was coming and it was horribly real - and I couldn't drag my eyes away.'
Little, who has worked on soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders, said: 'I've written lots of break-ups but here was something completely different. No acting, no script.
'I was watching emotion, heartbreak and drama. Is the reason that viewers love shows such as Made In Chelsea so much because the truth is more compelling than fiction, and these characters, circumstances and consequences live on once the credits have rolled?
'And if these programmes speak to the audience, isn't it possible that structured reality and drama can inhabit the same space? The same ballroom at the same awards ceremony?'
He left The Only Way Is Essex after the first series but went on to story-produce E4 show Made In Chelsea, which follows socialites on and around London's King's Road.
He said: 'For me, Chelsea is a different show to TOWIE.
'Last week a guy broke the news to his girlfriend that things weren't working out and he wanted to finish it.
'She had no idea it was coming and it was horribly real - and I couldn't drag my eyes away.'
Little, who has worked on soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders, said: 'I've written lots of break-ups but here was something completely different. No acting, no script.
'I was watching emotion, heartbreak and drama. Is the reason that viewers love shows such as Made In Chelsea so much because the truth is more compelling than fiction, and these characters, circumstances and consequences live on once the credits have rolled?
'And if these programmes speak to the audience, isn't it possible that structured reality and drama can inhabit the same space? The same ballroom at the same awards ceremony?'
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