ABSOLUTELY LIVID
Ascot residents fear reality show will harm house prices
FIRST the reality TV producers came for Essex, then the affluent world of west London.
Now Ascot is getting its moment in the spotlight – but some of its well-heeled residents are anything but happy.
ITV programme Absolutely Ascot is set to follow a group of partying racegoers around the Berkshire town, in a bid to rival E4’s Made in Chelsea.
However, concerned homeowners have branded it ‘a cross between The Only Way is Essex and My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’, complaining that it could cause their house prices to fall. The average Ascot home costs upwards of £600,000.
There have also been claims that the programme will feature social media stars from as far afield as Essex instead of real locals.
Courtney Smith, an 18-yearold from Essex, is rumoured to be featured on the show – and photos on Instagram, where she has 9,000 followers, show her dressed up for the races. Other potential stars include Leah Fletcher and Amber Tucker-Chandler.
One Ascot resident, who was not named, told the Sunday Telegraph: ‘From the small clips I’ve seen and the gossip I’ve heard most of the cast are not true residents at all.’
The woman added that her friends knew some of the cast members who were merely from the outskirts of Ascot.
Another local said: ‘I actually met the cast at Windsor races – they were quite rough.
‘We are a highly social crowd from Ascot and did not recognise any of them. [They seemed like a] very poor representation of Ascot – I hope the house prices don’t decline.’
Local councillor Alison Sharpe added: ‘I would hope they would choose people who were genuinely from Ascot.’
‘The cast were quite rough’