Jersey responds to the 'Real Housewives'

Tuesday 29 December 2020

National promotion for Jersey, some harmless fun between Christmas and New Year...or an example of 'trash tv' at its worst?

Last night the 10 episodes of ‘The Real Housewives of Jersey’ premiered on ITVBe and ITVHub.

Commissioned by ITVBe and produced by Monkey Kingdom, the ‘structured reality’ show was filmed in the island in August.

The cast includes Dr Tessa Hartmann CBE, the founder of Jersey Style Awards and mum of popstar and reality TV regular Tallia Storm; skydiver Hedi Green, estate agent Margaret Thompson, along with Ashley Cairney, Jane Rayner, Kate Taylor and Mia Ledbury.

As might be expected the reaction on social media was...mixed, with some praising the scenic shots of Jersey - and others lamenting the portrayal of the island as just a playground for the 'rich and shameless.'

So happy my aerial shots are getting such great feedback! Thanks everyone ????@RHOJersey @VisitJerseyCI #RHOJersey

— Bam Perspectives (@BamPerspectives) December 28, 2020

The first episode opened on a series of aerial shots captured by local photographer Marc Le Cornu, also known as Bam Perspectives. Jersey was described as “awash with glamour, glitz and plenty of gossip” with the voiceover noting that “what it lacks in size it makes up for in attitude."

Dr Hartmann could also be heard praising the island’s rich culture and heritage and comparing the island to a mix between Ibiza and Menorca.

The series had been the subject of much speculation and comments online, with many questioning whether it would be beneficial for the island.

#TheRealHousewivesOfJersey is so bad that I can't stop watching ???? #RHOJersey #RHOJ #IdealDayToBeWatchingRubbishTV #UKSnow ????️❄️☃️⛄????️

— ScottishFoodie (@FoodieScottish) December 29, 2020

A lot of the comments light-heartedly made fun of the show and how heavily scripted it is.

@FoodieScottish wrote how it was so bad they couldn’t stop watching.  

#RHOJersey is so bad it’s good. Who would have thought there would be a Scottish Kris Jenner wannabe pic.twitter.com/AkIpEyH6be

— The Welsh GC (@gcollyer1982) December 28, 2020

Likewise @gcollyer1982 wrote “it’s so bad it’s good”.

So, self isolation has meant I completed #RHOJersey in two days. Never heard such commotion about what happened in a graveside in Australia in the 90s.

— Cllr Sam FH (@SamF_H) December 29, 2020

@SamF_H from London, who finished watching the show in two days due to being isolation, pointed out he had never heard “such commotion about what happened in a graveside in Australia in the 90s”.  

#RHOJersey I’m sorry all this is giving me is #WishYouWereHere 90’s vibe... pic.twitter.com/H3hiy9bpFH

— Davina Devine (@DavinaDevine) December 28, 2020

Self-dubbed ‘Dublin Drag Diva’ Davina Devine said the series reminded her of Judith Chalmer’s ‘Wish you were here?’ 

Not everyone seemed to enjoy the new series though with someone pointing out they hadn’t seen “anything so laughably awful in ages”.

I think the fact that Jersey is back to front really foreshadows what this series is gonna be like... #realhousewivesofjersey #RHOJersey pic.twitter.com/yP6tUUb6E4

— Alfie Butel (@ButelAlfie) December 28, 2020

Local musician Alfie Butel however said that the “back to front” logo should have been a warning.

Got bored 7 mins in.. overproduced like #RHOCheshire #RHOJersey

— Clara-Ann ☘️ (@Pepper6012) December 29, 2020 

@pepper6012 said she had got bored seven minutes in due to the show being “overproduced”. 

Brexit
Covid
The Real Housewives of Jersey#RHOJersey

— Jonathan Socrates (@JonSocrates) December 29, 2020

According to writer and musician Jonathan Socrates, the Real Housewives rank just behind Brexit and Covid – we are not sure what the ranking is but we don’t think it is ‘The best things to happen in 2020’. 

#RHOJersey how are they a housewife with no husband haha

— Nicol (@NiicolRogers90) December 29, 2020

Some jokingly pointed out the inaccuracies in the show, like @NiicolRogers90 who asked ‘how are they a housewife with no husband?’.

#RHOJersey oh dear... to make it more accurate they should of had an episode where they went to the Water Splash, a bit of shopping in Marks & Spencer and then to KFC for a bargain bucket.

— Jon (@JFDT29) December 28, 2020

Meanwhile Jon, @JFDT29, made some suggestions to make the series more realistic, which involved an outing to the Watersplash, shopping at Marks & Spencer and KFC for a bargain bucket.

All people would see online were moaning comments when they should’ve been embracing the fact that a movie had the word #Guernsey in the title. Same thing with #RHOJersey. Embrace it, the island looks amazing. Must admit - it’s no #Bergerac ????

— Paul (@paul_gsy_ci) December 29, 2020 

A Guernseyman named Paul (@paul_gsy_ci) reminded everyone the show was meant to be “a bit of fun” not reality. He said the negativity surrounding the show was akin to the one surrounding the 2018 movie ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’, adding that people should be embracing the fact the series has Jersey in its title.

However, he added, the Housewives have nothing against Bergerac. 

Classic Jersey! ???? #RHOJersey pic.twitter.com/B6eV8SAIHt

— @Cali (@Cali_jsy) December 28, 2020 

Despite diverging views on the series, everyone agreed the ‘moonie’ was the funniest scene.