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Inside the Cutthroat World of Reality TV: Who’s Rising and Who’s Falling?

BBG News

Initially dismissed as second-rate, it’s hard to deny that reality television personalities have become ubiquitous across all channels if you just take a quick look at any TV guide today.

Day after day, from morning talk shows to dance competitions, it seems that fame has become a never-ending parade of individuals who rose to stardom through self-promotion, massive social media presence, and charm. As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but marvel at this seemingly unstoppable phenomenon.

However, despite their charming demeanors, the competition among new celebrities in the latest genre is incredibly ruthless and fierce.

Additionally, it can be unpredictable too; just consider the case of Maura Higgins. Since her rise to fame on Love Island in 2019, she’s earned a label as someone who may potentially disrupt marriages, following her public display of affection with McFly singer Danny Jones.

So who else is slipping down the reality hot list, and who is clambering up to the top of the tree?

A-LIST

It’s been quite the journey from Dagenham market to prime-time stardom for STACEY SOLOMON.

2009 saw a 20-year-old single mother attempting her audition for The X Factor. It was Simon Cowell who recognized her potential stardom, forecasting she would emerge victorious. Although Joe McElderry from Newcastle ultimately claimed the title of winner, Stacey surpassed him in terms of fortune, influence, and longevity. Now, she is a successful author, television host, and entrepreneur of a thriving lifestyle, homeware, and fashion brand, with an estimated net worth of £6 million and a substantial social media following to boot.

In 2010, she won the popular show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! This victory not only earned her affection from the nation but also led to romance when she met and eventually married Joe Swash, the presenter of the spin-off show and a former EastEnders actor. Now, they share three children together and reside in a charming countryside home fondly known as Pickle Cottage.

However, be mindful that Stacey, aged 35, may appear carefree or lighthearted with her infectious laughter and seemingly airheaded manner, as well as expressing concerns about her physique. Yet, do not underestimate her intellect and resilience, which have undoubtedly played significant roles in her success in business.

‘Stacey is not to be messed with,’ one of her former Loose Women colleagues tells me.

Next, we have Pete Wicks, another resident from Essex who gained popularity through The Only Way Is Essex (Towie) and was previously a B/C-list celebrity. However, Strictly Come Dancing enticed him into the 2024 lineup, and he danced his way to the top of the reality TV A-list.

Pete, aged 37, may not have been an exceptional dancer, but his enigmatic appearance with long hair, tender emotional depth, and the striking hot-pink Lycra pants he donned during Blackpool week captivated Middle England. This led to a massive wave of votes, enabling him to continue until week 12.

His vibrant personal life keeps him consistently in the spotlight. Last year, a rumored love triangle involving fellow celebrity Maura Higgins and his Strictly dance partner Jowita Przystal garnered significant attention across the nation. However, these relationships have since concluded, leaving Pete as a single man once more.

‘It won’t be long until he’s back in bed with another pretty woman,’ says a source who knows him.

As Zara McDermott, the 28-year-old former contestant of Strictly, I’ve successfully transitioned from a bikini-clad Love Island participant to a dedicated TV presenter, spearheading a series of BBC documentaries that delve into pressing topics such as eating disorders and rape culture.

In this way, I’ve been able to use my platform to bring awareness to important societal issues and foster meaningful conversations.

Currently, the BBC highly values her work, regularly turning to her as their primary choice for creating impactful programs that resonate with a younger, popular female demographic.

Speaking from personal experience, I, much like Sam Thompson, have ventured into the realm of reality television, gracing the screens of “Made In Chelsea.” Recently, my romantic journey mirrored that of Sam’s, as I found myself in a high-profile relationship with an equally captivating partner, albeit not Zara. However, like them, our path diverged late last year.

Sam, who recently won I’m A Celebrity and also competed on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity SAS, is now 32 years old and co-hosts a podcast called Staying Relevant alongside Pete Wicks. This show seems to have lived up to its name as the popularity of this dynamic duo continues to grow.

36-year-old Spencer Matthews, who is currently wedded to the Irish model Vogue Williams, has experienced much achievement since his rise to fame on the show “Made In Chelsea.

In a bid to transition from his modest origins linked to Pippa Middleton, sister of the Princess of Wales, this individual endeavored to create a new Guinness World Record by running 30 marathons within 30 days across the desert, trekking towards Mount Everest Base Camp in search of his late brother Michael’s remains, and abstaining from alcohol – a choice he has frequently discussed in his podcasts and literary works.

B-LIST

GEMMA COLLINS is particularly knowledgeable about the reality world. After joining Towie in the late 2000s following a short-lived role as a Mercedes car saleswoman on the show, she earned the nickname ‘The GC’ and amassed her fortune through personal appearances and advertising deals.

Currently, Gemma, who is 44 years old, runs a fashion label and travels across the country performing her solo act at sold-out events. These evenings are filled with music, dance, and laughter shared among her devoted followers.

Six years ago, during her time on Dancing On Ice, her growing popularity significantly expanded after she took a tumble on the ice rink. It’s been shared with me that producers of Strictly Come Dancing are yet to consider her for their show.

As for romantic endeavors, Gemma has moved on and is currently in a relationship with businessman Rami Hawash following her emotional breakup with Towie colleague James “Arg” Argent in the year 2020.

I can confirm that she is incredibly lively and very generous, as I celebrated well into the night with her on the Greek island of Mykonos. She eventually returned to her room for sleep since she needed to meet the paparazzi early the next morning for pre-shoot preparations.

While some people may not be fond of her, another former colleague described her as “absolutely chilling.

Discussing strong females, VICKY PATTISON, aged 37, transformed her experiences from having relationships on the MTV reality series Geordie Shore during her younger years into a successful business venture. Now happily married to clothing brand executive Ercan Ramadan, their wedding was documented for fans as part of a reality show that aired on Channel 4.

Similar to Zara McDermott, I’ve managed to carve out a role for myself as a documentary star, recently leading the Channel 4 show “Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape.” However, there are some individuals from Vicky’s past who aren’t quite thrilled to see her thrive.

According to my source, she used to come across as quite miserable in the past. She had a tendency to become rather unpleasant, particularly after having some alcohol.

DAVID POTTS gained popularity as the flamboyant host on the racy ITV2 series The Ibiza Weekender, known for his short-shorts. At 31 years old, he was chosen for Celebrity Big Brother last year, ultimately emerging victorious against longtime show business figures Louis Walsh and Fern Britton.

Due to his outgoing nature, he was recently chosen by ITV executives to host the competition segments on This Morning, a role that frequently leads to bigger opportunities in television presentation for aspiring reality celebrities.

A possible rephrase could be: Instead, many people who are familiar with him might describe David as “extremely irritating.

CHARLOTTE CROSBY, aged 34, is primarily recognized as the side-splittingly chaotic and boy-crazy 21-year-old from the inaugural season of Geordie Shore back in 2011. She stayed on the show until 2016, and during her time in Newcastle, she had a tumultuous on-again, off-again romance with Gary ‘Gaz’ Beadle, which became one of its most memorable storylines.

After a five-year long will they, won’t they situation, they officially got together right before Charlotte experienced an ectopic pregnancy. They broke up in 2016. Despite her challenging past, she has thrived and now boasts nearly 9 million Instagram followers and her own fashion line. She is currently engaged to entrepreneur Jake Ankers and has recently given birth to their second daughter.

C-LIST

Last year, television network ITV had the intention of making Olivia Attwood, a former Love Islander and frequent face on Made In Chelsea, their latest shining star when she joined I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2022. However, her participation was cut short due to a medical evaluation that required her withdrawal from the show.

After Olivia emerged from the jungle, we had arranged for an interview and photo session, but unfortunately, she didn’t manage to hop into the car quickly enough to reach the studio. Consequently, we resorted to conducting our conversation via Zoom. It wasn’t ideal.

Originating from Love Island 2022, TASHA GHOURI appeared to be on an impressive trajectory when she reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2024, partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec. However, a source close to Strictly has expressed that the 26-year-old may not possess captivating charm, as her personality is seemingly underdeveloped.

Joey Essex initially appeared on TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex) as a beloved simpleton, subsequently earning a spot on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! There, he admitted that he struggled with telling time.

However, his pitiful display as a lost puppy was unmasked when he joined Love Island at age 33 last year. That move turned out to be a major blunder. He faced allegations of being misogynistic and controlling towards the female contestants in the villa, with Jessy Potts being a primary target of these accusations.

In my professional opinion, it might be beneficial for him to invest some effort into mastering the art of telling time accurately, rather than socializing predominantly with a younger crowd.

He might not be A-list, but he had me in stitches during the Pride of Britain awards in 2012. So, despite being on the D-list, I’d still consider him exempted due to his hilarious company.

30-year-old EKIN-SU CULCULOGLU found herself in a favorable position following her intense performances on Love Island in 2022. She quickly earned recognition as one of the show’s most memorable characters due to her tumultuous relationship with popular co-contestant and Italian model, Davide Sanclimenti, which was marked by frequent ups and downs.

However, an arguably imprudent and potentially self-serving move to participate in Celebrity Big Brother last year led to a conflict with fellow contestant Marisha Wallace, resulting in Ekin’s descent from the A-list to the C-list. Following this appearance, Ekin faced accusations of being manipulative, insincere, and playing games, which sparked considerable outrage among viewers.

I can’t help but gush over this! After her comeback to Love Island All Stars, she’s been on cloud nine, and it seems like the feeling is mutual with Curtis Pritchard! I’m absolutely thrilled for them both!

Some people doubt the authenticity of their relationship, as it appears contrived to boost their popularity and generate income, according to my source. Yet, despite their efforts to gain notoriety, they persist in residing at C.

D-LIST

This week, a showbiz source expressed their frustration over Maura by exclaiming, ‘She needs to leave! She’s just got to go!’ They were reacting to the footage of her kissing her I’m A Celebrity campmate, Danny Jones, who is married.

Certainly, MAURA HIGGINS, once cherished for her humor on Love Island, has faced a significant shift in public perception lately, earning a new moniker among celebrities. Not too long ago, she captivated the nation with her quick wit during her stint in the jungle. She’s also built a substantial wealth of over a million pounds through her performance on ITV’s Dancing On Ice and endorsements for brands like Ann Summers. This success allowed her to purchase her desired home in Essex and even acquire a Porsche with her earnings.

Originally a prominent figure, it’s rumored that due to last week’s kiss, Maura, aged 34, is at risk of being dropped from the spotlight. A colleague confided, ‘She has been exposed.’ ‘Her strategy all along was to attach herself to men, hoping they would propel her to lasting stardom.’

Although Michelle Keegan, his wife and renowned British actress, continues to thrive in her career, Mark Wright, who is 38 years old, has seen his own star power diminish somewhat. “He’s a fool,” remarks one of his associates. “He believes he’s far more significant than he truly is.

Fans of TOWIE may recall him as one of the original cast members. Later on, he hosted a celebrity gossip program called Extra in America, but unfortunately, his lack of skill resulted in his termination from the show.

On her self-titled Amazon reality show “Behind It All,” MOLLY-MAE HAGUE, aged 25, might appear as a superstar, but I find myself doubting the authenticity of her brand (rumored to be quite expensive). I’m not alone in this sentiment. Following their stint on Love Island, Molly-Mae and her boyfriend Tommy Fury, both 25, capitalized on their relationship, leading Molly-Mae to purchase a £2 million property in Cheshire.

It so happened that her fashion brand, Maebe, debuted concurrently with her separation from Fury in August – perhaps she believed this timing would boost sales. However, as one ex-coworker put it, ‘It didn’t seem to take off, did it?’ Adding, ‘I can’t find anyone who owns anything from it.’

Regarding Fury, despite being part of the renowned boxing Fury family (with his half-brother being the former world champion Tyson), he is currently perceived in the industry as just ‘Tyson’s younger sibling’. According to my informant who knows them well, they are described as a notorious duo. ‘They’re incredibly self-centered,’ remarks my source disapprovingly. ‘Quite unpleasant.’

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2025-03-10 05:06

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