ITV reality show is absolutely not Ascot, say town’s true residents
Locals fear that fake-tanned ‘Instagram influencers’ could ruin the picturesque Berkshire town’s reputation
THE well-heeled residents of Ascot are used to the disruption to their summer caused by the influx of thoroughbred horse-loving revellers attending the races.
But in recent weeks a new breed of fake-tanned, glamorous people have descended on the picturesque Berkshire town all hoping to become stars in the latest reality television show. And residents fear the ITV programme, called Absolutely Ascot, could paint the town in a bad light and even bring down house prices – in part because they insist the show’s contributors are not real locals.
ITV last night refused to comment on who is in the show or where they are from, but photographs of some of the cast being filmed have been shared on social media often with disparaging comments.
Meanwhile, rumours abound that so-called “Instagram influencers” from Essex have been recruited to promote the programme, which is meant to rival The Only Way is Essex (often known as Towie) and Made in Chelsea.
Local resident Georgina Reid complained the show looked like “a cross between Towie and My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding”. She said that many of the cast do not appear to be from Ascot, where the average house is worth well in excess of £600,000.
“From the small clips I’ve seen and the gossip I’ve heard, most of the cast are not true residents at all,” she complained. “My friends can name a few in those photos and they live in Egham, Ashford, Staines and Virginia Water.
“Personally, I don’t think it represents Ascot in its true light at all.”
JoJo, another local, told The Sunday Telegraph: “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. We asked if they were from Ascot and they declined to answer. But they are very young so who knows. After meeting them [it seemed like a] very poor representation of Ascot – I hope the house prices don’t decline.”
One rumoured contestant is 18-yearold Courtney Smith, an “Instagram influencer” from Essex, who declined to say whether or not she would be on the show. Her profile shows her attending the Ascot Races, lounging at a spa in the town and showing off a new pair of Louboutin shoes. Another is Leah Fletcher, who has 14,000 followers on Instagram and did not respond when approached by The Telegraph. She posted photographs from the Windsor Races, but appears to spend the bulk of her time in Staines.
Councillor Alison Sharpe, chairman of the council, said: “If they’re making a reality show, there must be some truth in it. I would hope they would choose people who were from Ascot. “There’s a wide variety of people in Ascot, and they’re all very lovely. If there are people on the show who are not from Ascot, then it is not very representative of the area, is it?”
Dozens of people have posted in the Facebook gossip group Ascot People, which boasts 10,000 members and is the go-to place for locals to discuss the town’s pressing issues.
Many said they had seen the cast
‘From the clips I’ve seen, the show looks like a cross between Towie and My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’
filming on the local green and in supermarkets around the town.
One wrote: “I can see house prices dropping …”
Ms Reid said the groups have been abuzz during the past few weeks.
“From posts on Facebook groups such as Ascot Gossip Girls and Ascot People, many ‘mums’ and younger people have been cringing at the thought of it appearing on screens and ruining the reputation of Ascot.”
ITV declined to comment on the cast or the content of the programme.