Popular Reality TV

When TLC debuted My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding earlier this month, I completely ignored it. That was a bad decision: It’s a fascinating, well-made series that’s a direct import from the UK and brings us into a culture that is stunning in its traditions, from wedding dresses that weigh more than the bride to socially accepted assault on women. I blame the show’s dumb title, My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding , which fails to capture the true essence of the series, and the fact that it is on TLC, which I’ve come to expect will air nonsense more often than not. This is a notable exception, and I hope the network airs more reality series like this in the future, because like the best documentaries and reality series, the show humanizes its subjects while letting us into their lives in a way that doesn’t seem exploitative ( Jon & Kate Plus 8 , ahem). Weddings are only part of the series, which covers everything from the amusing clothing travelers wear to the discrimination, stereotyping, and persecu...

Home > Factual > Big Fat Gypsy dress maker to get her own apprentice style reality show? May 24th, 2011 by Anna Howell. 1 Comment We watched in amazement as Thelma Madine, chosen dress maker to the travelling community, transformed gypsy girl’s weddings into huge, fantastical fairytales due mainly to the size and grandeur of their wedding dresses and now we are going to be given an insight into how it is done, according to The Mirror. Thelma, who owns the unique wedding boutique, Nico in Liverpool, has been making over stated and some would say over the top wedding dresses for travelling brides for the past decade. Many boast thousands of crystals and working mechanisms to light the dress and even moving ornaments too. Since the success of Chanel 4's Dispatches spin off series, ‘Big Fat Gypsy weddings’, an unprecedented amount of attention has been thrust upon the designer who even organised the entire wedding of the couple who went head to head with the Royal wedding, and...

Home > Factual > Travellers beg to be art of new ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ February 23rd, 2011 by Lisa McGarry. 2 Comments Despite all the negative attention the show has been receiving and the amount of travellers that have complained about how Channel 4 has been mis-representing their culture, insiders say that producers of ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ have been besieged by members of the travelling community who want to take part in their new series. ‘A Big Fat Gyspy Christmas’ was filmed late in 2010, but bosses are planning other spin-offs such as ‘My Big fat Gyspy Funeral’ and it looks like they will have no shortage of people to feature. A source told The Sun: “It has been a huge topic of conversation and everyone wants to be on it. “The girls and boys who have been on it have gained notoriety within their community – a bit like being a local celebrity.” “Some have spoken out against the show but there is certainly no shortage of people who want to go on it” One person ...

Home > Factual > Cheyenne says ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ is NOT accurate February 1st, 2011 by Lisa McGarry. No comments Blonde bombshell Cheyenne, star of Channel 4's My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, has hit out at the show saying it doesn’t accurately portray her community. The 15 year old girl, who previously admitted that she thinks nothing of spending £300 of her dad’s money on a new dress, told blasted show makers and told The Sun: “It’s not accurate at all. Even our own community said we’re making ourselves look like idiots.” Cheyenne was recently seen as a victim of “grabbing”, the traveller community’s courtship that ritual involves boys muscling in on girls to get a kiss – and staking their claim on the girl as a future wife But she said: “That was blown out of proportion. Some of it’s a bit of a Mickey-take. It’s been exaggerated,” she told Star magazine. And despite the shock success of the reality TV series, don’t expect to see a second series. Cheyenne added: “We w...

Home > Factual > My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding: Paddy holds a moving memorial service for his son January 22nd, 2011 by Lisa McGarry. No comments A memorial service featured on My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, has prompted Channel 4 bosses to consider airing a one off special show titled My Big Fat Gypsy Funeral! The moving ceremony will air on an upcoming episode of the Channel 4 show, when dad Paddy holds a memorial service for his son Patrick, who was killed in a car crash aged 18. The whole family will gather around his graveside, playing his favourite music and sharing their favourite stories about their brother, friend, cousin and brother. A source told The Sun: “It is very moving. Paddy’s mum talks about how she will never get over his death.” The series has been a surprise hit for Channel 4, with it’s opening episode pulling in 6.5million viewers last Tuesday. Follow us on Twitter! Get the latest news and chat with @unrealitytv Categories: Factual Tags: Channel-4, My Big Fat Gypsy W...