MADE IN CHELSEA

Tonight sees the return of another reality TV stalwart that is Made In Chelsea. Now, in its forth series, this programme has brought us an assortment of young people from very well to do backgrounds. For me, this show is the most fascinating out of the selection of reality pick and mix exposés churned out with regular frequency these days.

Affluent, well spoken, savvy and impeccably groomed. These privately educated cats have been dandily showing us mere peasants just how they do it on the Kings Road, through Chelsea SW3 - SW10 - to overseas.

Unlike the other reality shows that concentrate on a general demographic - these rich kids are privy to the luxury of boarding a plane to escape the 'pressures' of London whenever it transpires that they need it.

Relationship problems...one needs to get away, come on chaps, let's go to Dubai to party and unwind. Oh, I have a headache, are you busy over the coming few days? Why don't we go to the South of France for some time. My father owns a small villa out there. In actuality, the villa is not small by mere mortals standards. Other features that stand out are - owning a house keeper that is treated with a sufficient amount of disregard, in this show, is like possessing a kettle, it's really not a big deal for some of the cast.

Removed from general reality is the world that they inhabit. It could be easy for an inner city dude to be slightly envious of the lavish trappings that they seem so accustomed to. But, on further inspection, for all of the 'fun' they seem to have - regular viewers (such as myself, hey, I have a guilty pleasure alright) will have noticed that they are not immune to a lot of the same silly problems many young twenty something's encounter. Albeit, their's are more glossy. Plus, the often obviously ridiculously staged scenes make it seem that bit more dramatic, when in truth - it actually isn't.

I deciphered from very early on that many of these 'well to do' upper crust smarty pants are extremely cliquey. Which, I suppose, is understandable. Why would they wish to mix in circles with people that do not share similar ethos and values. They one of the same. So, naturally, they would all prefer to be amongst like minded people.

And this is what leads me to the most astounding facet of Made In Chelsea. The unbelievable incestuousness nature that circulates within this pack of aesthetically pleasant looking human beings. They have little or no qualms in sharing the same girls. One person could 'hook up' (as they call it), with one female for a short period of superficial romance - to then discard her for the next Sloan Ranger wannabe who happens to shimmy her expensively assembled clad buttocks in his meandering eyes direction. There is always another willing comrade who will more than happily oblige in 'attending' to a disposed damsel in the wake of polite rejection.

However, this never lasts, as usually the original suitor grows tired of the new bespoke madam he has been courting and often wishes for a reconciliation with his previous flame. Which for me, only highlights the culture of never being satisfied and constantly coveting what you do not have. Cue clipped English angst and well spoken vitriol, culminating in a weird hearty alliance between the two suitors who then agree to a somewhat sordid exchange with a gentlemanly shake of a Rolex adorned hand and a telling nod of the head.

I have watched and basically been baffled at how many of these girls and boys have at one stage or another all been 'acquainted' at some point. Murky water always most certainly seems to surface in one way or another on this show. They have all dabbled and and enquired of one another.

If some of the females behaviour on Made In Chelsea was featured in say, an inner city estate reality show - I am positive the 'lady' in question would be branded with an unsavoury label that would denote that she is 'easy' and amicably accessible. But, dress up such behaviour in a vintage designer boutique label coupled with the mandatory required accessory that is - a finely tuned, polished, succinct accent - then things are deemed slightly more acceptable.

Funny how generic relationship problems change when they are packaged and re branded in in a Harrods bag.

I am sure this forth series will further continue to intrigue and entertain me with the relentless barrage of posh shenanigans that are strictly Made In Chelsea.



Demola, TCC