I can already hear the dismayed “ugh” and see the exaggerated eye-rolls, but it’s time to leave your judgements at the door for this one because when you do, you may find a whole new world of entertainment. Low brow, low mental effort, but high entertainment is The Real Housewives of Cheshire, the latest gem from ITV.
For the standard artsy, intellectually wanting student, this show may feel initially soul-sucking, but TRHOC is a playground of slightly staged drama, tacky-but-expensive homes, and behind the scenes looks into the semi-real lives of many Manchester City and Manchester United footballers’ wives.
I for one was not too keen when a friend forced me to watch the programme one Sunday evening following the Monday premiere. Having experienced the horror of The Real Housewives of New York, Orange County and Atlanta, I was not looking forward to more drink-throwing, exaggerated drama but with Mancunian accents.
But, what makes TRHOC different is that it actually gives you characters to fight for and the histrionics are less over the top. For some, that might be a downside – some live for the crazy, pointless arguments of the American Housewives. But this show is less soul-crushingly exploitative. It’s more believable and less cruel, and from a feminist standpoint, makes these women look a lot more like real women.
One is a single mother, another runs a successful business, so although it definitely has its fair share of asking husbands for cash, there are at least moments where these women seem to have a pretty cool life for themselves, not just as a housewife.
Give yourself a break from your documentary programs and Netflix dramas. The Real Housewives of Cheshire is what every student needs as a break from mental exhaustion. So sit back and relax into the easy to understand, (most likely fake) drama that these upper class country living women provide.