Channel Seven’s latest offering to reality TV, an Aussie version of the popular UK show , premiered to a string of bad reviews last week, with many viewers calling it “the worst show of the year”. The show, which follows a group of young socialites in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, also surprised viewers once they discovered one secret about the cast – that most are not actually from Sydney. Bella Salerno grew up in the UK, Molly Paradice is from country NSW and Billy Daniels and Isabella Cicero are from Perth.
Even the participants from Sydney do not live in Bondi; Pippa Hanan lives in Paddington, Lachlan McLean calls the Northern Beaches home and Paul Versace resides in Potts Point. When asked about this, a production source told : “To put it bluntly, no one from Bondi wanted anything to do with the project, so casting had to get creative. Ultimately, the show is made for an international audience though, so the specifics aren’t that important as long as viewers see young, hot people with an accent.
” Last Tuesday, premiered to just 206,000 viewers in its 9pm slot. understands if ratings sink much lower, the show will likely be moved solely to the streaming platform 7Plus. Following the show's announcement, Bondi locals slammed the idea, with Jean, a mother in her 40s who has lived in Bondi her whole life, telling : “The last thing Bondi needs is more unrealistic media reinforcing these stereotypes [that everybody is an influencer here].
“This is one of the most diverse suburbs in Sydney with such a strong sense of community but that is never highlighted.” Pilar, who works in a cafe by Bondi Beach, adds that the “real Bondi” is families, backpackers and people of all ages and nationalities enjoying the hot weather together. British expat Jake Leech agrees, saying: “Bondi isn’t defined by a handful of cosmetically enhanced, entitled rich kids wanting attention.
” The show was also slammed by locals on social media after it was announced, with one person commenting: “Australia's media output is getting more Sydney-centric and less meaningful by the day.” “The real elite wouldn’t be caught dead doing this,” another added..
