Exeter has a number of reality TV stars – How did they earn their fame?

Since Big Brother took the UK by storm in 2000, there have been countless reality shows for the British public to get involved in. With the likes of Lauren Pope and Georgia Toffolo both hailing from Torquay on the English Riviera, it has been suggested that Exeter and its surrounding lands are a hotbed for reality stars. How did these personalities make it to the top?

Ever since Craig Phillips won the first-ever edition of Big Brother in 2000, the requirements to being a successful reality TV star have shifted and evolved. With all the modern offerings around, different personalities have cropped up to suit diverse types of programming. Shows like Big Brother and The Only Way is Essex are now seen as the gateways to the higher echelons of reality TV. Getting on to a show like I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! or Strictly Come Dancing is seen as the ultimate goal for the budding fame hunter.

When it comes to winning a competition like BBC’s six-time Most Popular Talent Show, Strictly, other factors come into play and the personality of the contestant isn’t so much as a contributor to success as it is in the fly-on-the-wall reality shows. Indeed, according to research provided by Betway, being a soap or pop star like Lance Ellington gives a contestant the best chance of winning. It is also age-dependent, with stars in their twenties or thirties usually topping the pile at the end.

There have been numerous reality television stars hailing from Exeter and around, with Pope and Toffolo being two of the most notable examples. Pope rose to fame on TOWIE in 2010, and spent nine years on the ITVBe show before leaving in March 2019. She has used her fame to boost her career as a model and businesswoman. Toffolo has starred in Made in Chelsea since 2014 and also won I’m a Celeb in 2017. She is now a regular face on terrestrial TV and appeared in Celebrity Gogglebox and Celebrity Hunted alongside Stanley Johnson this year.

Perhaps due to the success of these Exeter locals, reality TV producers will search the city and its neighbouring towns for other potential personalities. Exeter has been dubbed a “glorious gateway to the west” and one of the 20 best places in the country to live. For this reason, it’s bound to foster great people who are made for reality television.