Do TV talent shows exploit and humiliate vulnerable people?

Christopher Hunter | 08:26 UK time, Wednesday, 16 September 2009

That's the question being asked of delegates at the TUC conference today. The actors' union Equity says shows like Britain's Got Talent are just cheap exploitation that give young people the misleading idea that it is easy to get into and succeed in the entertainment industry.

Have they got a point? Do TV talent shows prey on vulnerable people or are they just harmless fun?

Nicky will be taking your calls on this on the phone-in at 9am - text us on 85058, email breakfast@bbc.co.uk, or message us via Facebook - or leave a comment on the blog.

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Comments

1. At 09:06am on 16 Sep 2009, zeldalicious wrote:
I cannot express my loathing for these kinds of shows. They specifically pick people they know who are going be laughed at and ridiculed. It's a modern kind of gladiatorial spectacle.

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2. At 09:08am on 16 Sep 2009, carrie wrote:
Less than a year to an election and the TUC is debating this twaddle.

What happened to real issues? I mean at the TUC and on this phone in programme.

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3. At 09:09am on 16 Sep 2009, zeldalicious wrote:
I did mean to add that I think it's a strange thing for the TUC to debate as well.

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4. At 09:20am on 16 Sep 2009, Nellysmydogsname wrote:
Listened to the interview with the Equity man and 'Pushy' mum this morning - Seems that Nicky had misunderstood the Equity point - insofar as they appear to be cheesed off at the fact performers are neither properly remunerated nor advised. Still it is much much better to sensationalist than accurate, eh? Oh, and was the 'pushy' mum just Victoria Wood in character? Sounded like her.

Truly dreadful topic for a phone in - come on 5live, get a little more depth and a little less tabloid.

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5. At 09:49am on 16 Sep 2009, gr001uk wrote:
Hi Nicky,

The whole show resembles events in the past at the Coliseum in Rome
and with similar results.

Regards
Greg

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6. At 10:17am on 16 Sep 2009, jimmy-dean-2009 wrote:
its not just the television shows who send out the wrong message its the media in this country take jade goody she was the bully in big brother and no media outlet would go anywhere near her but as soon as she got cancer she was made out to be some kind of inspiration and hero figure it made no sense at all

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7. At 00:31am on 17 Sep 2009, wendymann wrote:
so the UN declare israels war against palestine involved war crimes .. and its hidden away .. instead we get ...

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8. At 08:38am on 17 Sep 2009, olddog_newtricks wrote:
everyone's consenting.
no-one's coerced.
no victimes.

contracts are clear, detailed and signed.
legal agents and psychiatric/counselling support abound.

huge stars are occasionally made, and relieved from their old "9-to-5".
even the clearly talentless get 15 minutes of fame.

next topic please...

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9. At 5:21pm on 17 Sep 2009, zeldalicious wrote:
Post 8 - No victims? Are you sure?

That large girl that was on whatever awful talent contest it was was ridiculed and jeered at by many. She may well have been deluded about her talent but then the programme knew that if they picked her she would be the target of many jokes. Susan Boyle has had to have counselling - No victims????

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