Taking a new look at reality

THE UNDERDOG: JOSH MUST WIN

Monday- Wednesday, 9pm, E4

Reality TV’s biggest names become puppet-master producers as Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison, Love Island’s Amber Rose Gill and TOWIE’s Pete Wicks go behind the camera in E4’s new show.

The group join presenter Nick Grimshaw as a line-up of confident competitors take part in a popularity contest for a fake show called The Favourite. But the stars must pull a few strings in order to allow Josh – a nerdy bartender who is far from your standard reality star – to win the whole game.

“It’s a chance to see past the boob jobs and the tattoos and just see a lovely, nice person being themselves,” said Vicky.

She said she could relate to Josh. “I think I’m a bit of an underdog. Nobody really liked me when I was on the telly. I went on I’m A Celebrity and I’ve been told that everybody wanted me out.”

Pete said that despite having been on “every show under the sun”, he doesn’t watch reality TV but wanted to be in control for a change. “It was nice to swap things up and put someone else through horrendous times,” he smiled.

The four stars spent hours watching Josh and the rest of the cast interact from a secret room – and Nick admitted he became paranoid while stuck in the “windowless” hideaway.

“The contestants were so good and archetypal that I thought they were fake and that Channel 4 was tricking us,” he laughed.

Now that Vicky and Pete have had a taste of producer life, they admit they’re not ready to give it up.

Pete said: “I got fairly obsessed with the whole thing. But we grew quite attached to all of the housemates. It’s not very nice being a dirty, horrible liar to people. Trust me, I’ve been there, I’ve done it!”