Over the last decade or so, reality TV has kept people talking. Competitions like Pop Idol and The X Factor draw in millions of viewers, each supporting their favourites either by simply watching the show, or by watching the show and actively voting to keep their contestants in. Reality shows can uncover talent and challenge stereotypes. One example is a lady called Susan Boyle, who took part in Britain's Got Talent. When she stepped onto the stage, the judges and the audience did not appear to be taking her seriously. They saw a woman of a certain age, who wasn't conventionally pretty, and they didn't think her capable of being a genuine contestant. All that changed when she began to sing. Susan Boyle is now known around the globe. Critics say that shows like The X-Factor are manufactured moneymaking machines. It cannot be denied that the format plays on people's feelings (amongst others by showing stories of contestants' tragic pasts) and that, yes, there is a lo...