The Stage

Code to call time on reality show cruelty

Published Tuesday 29 May 2007 at 16:20 by Matthew Hemley

A code of conduct aimed at preventing the exploitation and humiliation of contestants on talent search shows such as The X Factor could be soon be introduced in an effort to protect people who are at their most “vulnerable”.

Equity is to meet with broadcasters to discuss what would be included in such a code, which would mean judges such as Simon Cowell would have to adhere to strict policies on how to treat those people who take part.

Proposals for the code of conduct were put forward by the Birmingham Variety Branch at this year’s conference, calling on Equity to “immediately commence talks” with broadcasters following concerns that the shows were ridiculing people who were “vulnerable and at the start of their careers”.

Birmingham Variety Branch secretary Jim Townsend said broadcasters should have to follow the same procedures used when people audition for drama or light entertainment.

Under these conditions, he said any producer wanting to record the auditions would have to abide by specific conditions, including providing advance notification that the audition will be filmed and agreeing that the footage will not be used in the subsequent show.

Townsend also said the tapes must be destroyed on completion of the programme.

He added: “No such safeguards exist in these so called reality programmes and the failure of some participants is bloated out to become the entertainment itself.”

Equity is also to make sure that participants in talent search shows are paid in line with Equity agreements and the welfare of the winners selected from these programmes is “protected”.

“Too often participants wreck their voices by taking part in daily shows and matinees.

“That is what happened to Connie Fisher in the How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? The voice is a musical instrument and should be treated as such,” Townsend said.