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“The Shire” on TEN -Australia’s answer to Jersey Shore?

Update: Following online leaks TEN has now formally released info on its new "dramality" show set in Sutherland Shire.

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“Jersey Shore ain’t got nothin’ on this place,” says a TEN promo. “The Reality event of 2012 everyone will be talking about.

“It will take social media to the next level.”

A promo about a forthcoming Reality soap has been leaked online.

Promising ‘Real People. Real Drama,’ the clip which has since been removed from YouTube sees a montage of young men and women giving random quotes to camera, presumably about themselves.

“I wanna become a porn star,” says one young woman.

“Someone fell down the stairs, but I refused to say that I pushed her,” adds another.

One bloke chimes in with “I think fake boobs are amazing.”

The show is pitched as coming from the people behind UK reality series The Only Way is Essex, but TV Tonight understands it comes from Shine Australia.

While it appears to be a promo for potential sponsors, there are suggestions that TEN acted swiftly to have the clip removed offline, with talk of legal action.

UPDATE: Following online leaks TEN has now formally released its info on the show:

Network Ten today announced the commissioning of The Shire, a bold, highly addictive ‘dramality’ series that follows the often outrageous lives and loves of a group of people who are destined to become the most talked about in Australia.

With its stunning beauty and “tribe-like” community, the Sutherland Shire in Sydney’s south is the perfect location for this very real glimpse into the private lives of a distinctive group of Australian culture.

Shine Australia has scoured the Shire to assemble a brilliant ensemble of charismatic and controversial characters.

From the boys next door, to the girls next door, from the heart-breakers, to the home-wreckers – The Shire is guaranteed to raise a commotion, and fast become one of the most talked-about shows on the box.

David Mott, chief programming officer, Network Ten said: “The Shire is a fascinating look into a unique sub-culture in Australia and the first time a local ‘dramality’ series is being introduced to the commercial television landscape.

“The genre has been a hit in the US (Jersey Shore) and the UK (The Only Way is Essex), changing the way people view television, and we intend to do the same.

“The Shire epitomises the progression of reality television and in this social media age, we’ve built a show that is not only entertaining but capitalises on all the twitterverse and blogosphere has to offer.

“It is the next step in the reality TV phenomenon TEN pioneered in 2001 when we introduced Big Brother to the Australian market and a strong, confident addition to our 2012 program line-up,” Mr Mott said.

“The Shire is a glimpse behind the curtain into the heart of Australia as you have never seen it before.”

From their hectic and crazed social lives to problems with work and family, The Shire will leave no stone unturned.

With its beautiful back-drop, controversial cast and Shine’s production expertise, The Shire has all the ingredients to become one of the breakout hits of 2012.

Production on The Shire starts Monday March 26, in…the Shire.

Urban dictionary:
1. Dramality: An evolution of the “reality series” television genre that blends realistic and fictional elements together.

39 Responses

  1. I can’t judge this show because I haven’t seen it. But I really wish it’s not about the sort of people I try best to avoid when I’m at uni.

    I’m from Western Sydney. I’m Asian and I’m gay. Do we really need more ‘stories’ about wealthy, Anglo Australians?

    How is Freshwater Blue going?

  3. Ever had one of those moments where you wished you thought of something first? I’m having that moment right now!!! You just know that is gonna work…Big time!

  10. I follow Daran Little on Twitter, he was a storyliner for TOWIE and creator of Made in Chelsea. He said he was approached by ten for this but turned it down as he didn’t want to move to australia.

  11. i love all these shows – The Only Way Is Essex, Made In Chelsea, Geordie Shore (the UK version is much better than Jersey Shore).

    Mind you though im the target demographic, mid 20’s. All i ask though is that TEN bases these shows on the UK format’s they are so much better than the US versions.

    I’ll either love or love too hate this show – either way ill watch it and be hooked!

  13. TEN’s answer to losing Big Brother to Nine. They should leave shows like that to MTV as they seem to be the only network to have success. Doubt it will be successful but I guess it’s their way of trying to get their young audience back.

  23. oh no, as if “TOWIE” isn’t bad enough. now we r to b bombarded with more ‘unscripted drama’ from air heads-albeit good looking ones, in the shire or is ir the dire?

  25. I guess that the fact this leaked and there is a buzz about it already means that TEN are really on to something.

    Notably whoever leaked it didn’t think ‘Being Lara Bingle’ was worth putting out into the world.

    I think this is a very smart move by TEN, people will either love this or love to hate it. It’ll be big.

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