Surprisingly good BBC reality TV shows.

I always thought that reality tv was the worst thing to happen to BBC. Then I realised I'd been wathcing almost religiously 3 BBC reality TV shows, that were actually pretty good.

1 Dog Borstal. I don't own a dog, I don't intend to own a dog. But a show about real people brought together, by nothing more than their ability to control their pets. It's weirdly epic and moving, I never knew I could almost be moved to tears. By a labrador getting over it's poo addiction, or a little Jack Russel beating sex addiction. Mick Martin is also very funny, in a natural unscripted way.

2 The restaurant. Damn this is a classy and weirdly serious show. A reality show about real people trying to get to run a real business. Raymond Blanc is also the most polite person on TV, whilst being about a 1000 times scarier than Alan Sugar.

3 Last Man Standing. 6 athletes join people in the developing world and compete with them. It's simple and enlightening and also weirdly real. I loved at the end of last season when they decided who won by having a polite chat. The tensions around the contests though is quite real.

Please tell me you're joking.

Quote: sootyj @ October 24 2008, 1:46 PM BST

Dog Borstal.

Last Man Standing

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Yes. I tend to have BBC3 on from midnight to 4am, and all these shows are usually playing on a loop. I've been watching 'The World's Strictest Parents' too. And I like the one where they find people who have big debts and then sort them out. I dunno what it's called though...

Quote: Aaron @ October 24 2008, 3:39 PM BST

Please tell me you're joking.

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No, I genuinely find all 3 engaging.

Watching programmes about real people, in slightly unreal situations is enjoyable.

I thought the documentary on heroin addiction to also be most excelent.

I have no idea if you're serious or not!

But I loved Fame Academy.

Deadly serious, I like shows about real people.

Being real.

Fame academy is like open day at the home for the terminally narcisistic.

Reality Tv is the melting pot for the end of civilisation.

Fame Academy is one of my favourite TV shows of all time.

It had hour upon hour of people being real! I'm talking about the 24 hour live feed of course. No edits whatsoever.
Can't get more real than that.

And it was shown in real time.

Aye it was actually.
They even accidentally broadcast a private phonecall live between one of the contestants and his girlfriend on the outside, while they were breaking up.
Oops.

I know it's on digital, but has anyone seen 'My Mum, My Pimp' on digital yet? It's a nail-biting reality show in which 6 mums and their 6 daughters compete to earn the most money from their whoring activities.

Funniest scene is, when so near to meeting the midnight deadline, mum Suzanne has to 'Rohypnol-up' her daugher before the rendez-vous with a Arab prince in a top London hotel, who is going by the pseudonym 'Susan'.

Really? Big up BBC for keeping it real.

Quote: Tim Walker @ October 24 2008, 6:58 PM BST

I know it's on digital, but has anyone seen 'My Mum, My Pimp' on digital yet? It's a nail-biting reality show in which 6 mums and their 6 daughters compete to earn the most money from their whoring activities.

Funniest scene is, when so near to meeting the midnight deadline, mum Suzanne has to 'Rohypnol-up' her daugher before the rendez-vous with a Arab prince in a top London hotel, who is going by the pseudonym 'Susan'.

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Good but title could be better. 'Whores, Scores and Snores.' Or even, 'F**k me! And I'll throw in the daughter too.' Or 'Dear John (the dearer the better)'

Quote: zooo @ October 24 2008, 6:49 PM BST

Fame Academy is one of my favourite TV shows of all time.

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But they hurted Witanhurst.

Aw, what did they do to the poor house?

I always liked 'Paddington Green'.