A new powerful Audible Original podcast, Edge of Reality explores the ‘reality’ of reality TV and how the genre may have contributed towards over 40 former contestants taking their own lives.
The series, created and hosted by writer and journalist Jacques Peretti, exposes in-depth the dark side of reality TV and investigates the industry’s attempt to tackle the genre’s very real human cost. Unknown to most, the first contestant voted off the earliest reality TV show, Expedition Robinson, took his own life. And in the 25 years since, at least 39 other former contestants have taken their own lives.
Edge of Reality features first-hand interviews with producers and former contestants directly involved with one of the most popular TV formats. The series reveals the extraordinary lengths the industry is willing to go to, and the collateral damage that has resulted along the way, in its goal to entertain.
Jacques starts by unearthing the origins of reality TV and the alarming similarities to outlawed experiments in human behaviour, meeting the people behind its infamous elimination format. Before investigating the evolution of the format including Extreme Makeover, Married at First Sight and The Bachelor.
The series highlights the disparity between the objective of production teams and participants motivations to win. Edge of Reality culminates in an episode highlighting, Love Island, and questions whether the UK TVs industry’s attempt to grapple with the human cost of reality TV is genuine.
Edge of Reality is available to download from today, 30 June exclusively from Audible.
