Why scandalous Aussie reality shows are finding success overseas

Why scandalous Aussie reality shows like Married At First Sight and Love Island Australia are finding huge success in America and the UK

Australian reality shows are finding success overseas amid the coronavirus pandemic.

International networks looking to fill their schedules in the wake of filming delays caused by the pandemic have snapped up some of Australia’s most outrageous reality shows, and they’ve turned out to be very popular viewers.

After Married At First Sight and Love Island Australia became must-see TV in the UK, The Sun declared this week that ‘Aussies are ruling reality TV’.

Going global: Australian reality shows like Married At First Sight and Love Island Australia (pictured) are finding success overseas amid the coronavirus pandemic

They added: ‘When it comes to saucy scandals, drama-loving producers Down Under are making many of our shows look a little, well… dull.’

The sixth season of Married At First Sight Australia recently aired in the UK to record ratings for E4, where it regularly pulls in more than 1.1 million viewers per episode.

The series has been so big that it’s even won over celebrity fans, including singer Sam Smith who called it ‘incredible television’. 

It's a hit! The sixth season of Married At First Sight Australia recently aired in the UK to record ratings for the E4 network. Pictured: Jessika Power

It’s a hit! The sixth season of Married At First Sight Australia recently aired in the UK to record ratings for the E4 network. Pictured: Jessika Power

Praise: 'When it comes to saucy scandals, drama-loving producers Down Under are making many of our shows look a little, well... dull,' wrote The Sun newspaper

Praise: ‘When it comes to saucy scandals, drama-loving producers Down Under are making many of our shows look a little, well… dull,’ wrote The Sun newspaper 

Viewers were also enthralled by Love Island Australia’s first season, which memorably featured a toxic love triangle between Cassidy McGill and eventual winners Tayla Damir and Grant Crapp.

The season also featured a fist fight between Grant and bad boy Eden Dally.

Aussie reality TV is also making a splash in the U.S. thanks to Married At First Sight.

Steamy: Viewers were also enthralled by Love Island Australia's first season, which was won by Grant Crapp and Tayla Damir (pictured)

Steamy: Viewers were also enthralled by Love Island Australia’s first season, which was won by Grant Crapp and Tayla Damir (pictured)

Action packed! The season also featured a fist fight between Grant and bad boy Eden Dally

Action packed! The season also featured a fist fight between Grant and bad boy Eden Dally

The dating show’s seventh season aired on the Lifetime network last year, and the sixth season is airing now.

‘The Australian MAFS filming format is quick and exciting to watch!’ gushed one American fan on social media.

‘The regular MAFS has to show every non-climactic part, and make you wait week after week, just to show non-eventful moments. Just sayin…’  

Stateside: Aussie reality TV is also making a splash in the U.S. thanks to Married At First Sight, which aired its seventh season (pictured) last year

Stateside: Aussie reality TV is also making a splash in the U.S. thanks to Married At First Sight, which aired its seventh season (pictured) last year 

The Australian format of Married At First Sight is very different to the international format, which is more serious in nature and features legally binding weddings. 

One of the biggest Australian reality TV hits in America is Instant Hotel, which originally flopped when it aired on Channel Seven in 2017.

However, it later became a huge hit after being picked up by Netflix.

Netflix hit: One of the biggest Australian reality TV hits in America is Instant Hotel, which originally flopped when it aired on Channel Seven in 2017

Netflix hit: One of the biggest Australian reality TV hits in America is Instant Hotel, which originally flopped when it aired on Channel Seven in 2017