Top 5 Must Watch Reality Shows of All Time

Reality TV has long been a staple on our TVs, but it can be tricky to know where to start with it. So here are my top 5 reality shows of all time to give you a taster of the genre. 

The Hills 

The Hills is the OG when it comes to soap opera style reality shows. It gave us some of the greatest villains of all time in Stephanie and Spencer Pratt. Not to mention The Hills sweetheart Lauren Conrad being the pioneer Reality TV star turned influencer. The Hills gave some unforgettable moments, Lauren and Heidi being in a five-year feud, Stephanie Pratt just causing absolute chaos, the complex relationships of all the girls. This show really had it all. If you've never watched it before then get yourself a big glass of wine and take yourself away to The Hills.  

Where to begin this show? 

• Whilst season one is somewhat slow, it is the best place to begin if you want the backstory of these friends. If you’re not interested in that then things really ramp up in season 2. 

Where can you find it? 

• Amazon prime has all 6 seasons of The Hills as part of their subscription. Netflix and paramount+ both have a couple of seasons as part of their subscription.  

Vanderpump Rules

In my humble opinion, this is the greatest reality show to exist. Set in SUR, a restaurant in West Hollywood it follows a group of twenty-somethings through the trials and tribulations they are faced with. The complex group relationships mixed with workplace and friendship dramas have made this one of the reality greats, not only that but it has some of the craziest arguments of all time. You should get this on your watchlist now! 

Where to begin this show? 

• Season 1, Episode 1. You can thank me for introducing you to this masterpiece of a show later.  

Where can you find it? 

• You’ll need a Hayu account to watch this one, or you can get the Hayu extension on prime for £1.99. (It will be the greatest £1.99 you’ve ever spent though.) 

The Traitors  

If you haven’t heard of the Traitors, then you must be living under a rock because this has quickly become one of the most famous shows on the planet. In this game show of deception, the Faithfuls need to find out who the troublesome Traitors are in their group, all whilst the Traitors are banishing the Faithfuls along the way.  

Where to begin this show? 

• I’d start with both UK seasons then watch the US seasons. International versions also are available on iPlayer.  

Where can you find it? 

• Most seasons are on BBC iPlayer, however for US season 2 you will need a VPN and a peacock subscription as it isn’t out here in the UK for a few more months! 

Dance Moms 

I remember watching this show on Lifetime every Saturday and Sunday morning as a kid, and my obsession with it has never let up. This show follows a group of mums and kids at a dance studio run by the iconic Abby Lee Miller. This has some of the crazier reality TV fights to exist, with each episode giving us chaos and tension. Since the show aired it has birthed several internationally renowned stars, and there’s a reason, with this show being a reality TV must watch! 

Where to begin this show? 

• I’d start with season 1, however in slower periods it’s fair game to skip some bits as there are so many episodes! Season 2 is where this show really gets going too.  

Where can you find it? 

• This show is unavailable in most places in the UK right now, however if you have a VPN then Disney+ has this show in the USA. Other than that, you can buy it on Amazon Prime, or Lifetime still shows reruns most days. 

The Real World 

I must admit, I’ve only seen a few seasons of The Real World, but it’s the show that started it all. Our reality TV obsessed world all began here, with 7 people in a loft in New York City. The premise of this show being that a group of young people were chosen to live in a new city together and followed by cameras. Think Big Brother crossed with summer House kind of vibes. The Real World is one of the longest running reality TV shows ever and there is a reason, every season is fresh and different which has meant that this show has longevity in a way that most shows don’t. For those of you who are a little further into your reality TV journey, this is the show for you! 

Best place to begin this show? 

• Any season. More notable ones are Key West, San Francisco, and Hollywood. However, due to its ever-changing cast each season, you’d never be missing anything if you skipped seasons. 

Where can I find it? 

• Netflix has a couple of seasons of the show but most of them are unavailable without buying them in the UK. Amazon Prime is the best place to try and find the old seasons.