Reality television has become one of the most lucrative broadcast genres in recent years.
Big Brother mesmerised viewers during its first appearance on screen in 2000 when unknown people entered 'the house' and their daily antics were transmitted to millions of viewers. It became so popular because it was a new television concept. Those charged with producing the entertainment were members of the public who had simply auditioned for a programme, which most people knew very little about.
Unfortunately, this has all now changed.
While Big Brother has annually returned to our screens to much acclaim, it has also spawned television programmes which are the blight of our weekly viewing, the 'celebrity' reality programmes.
Programmes guilty of this offence include Strictly Come Dancing, Soapstar Superstar, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Just the Two of Us, Dancing on Ice and The Farm.
RTE's Celebrity Jigs and Reels is particulary offensive, both for its lack of celebrity and entertainment.
These programmes are different from the initial Big Brother because rather than being unscripted, fly-on-the-wall documentaries, they require the completion of tasks, or the execution of a skill.
The problem is not with this concept, but with the people coveted with the title of 'celebrity' who appear on them.
This term is now loosely used to describe any aging pop-star, ex-soap star, glamour model, mistress, or WAG, who appears on one of these shows.
In this regard, greatest contempt is held for Big Brother's closest relative, Celebrity Big Brother.
Why is it not called 'Where is the Celebrity, Big Brother?'
This year, one of the celebrities to enter the house was Jade Goody.
Jade was a contestant on an earlier Big Brother, becoming famous for stripping on the sofa and being as stupid as possible.
This is what brought her to the attention of the public, making her a celebrity.
Her boyfriend is still in his teens and her mother is a one-armed lesbian. They also appear in the show, thus giving them the title of 'celebrity'.
Four ex-pop stars, two ex-actors, a Bollywood actress, a tabloid columnist, an elderly film director, a footballer's girlfriend with a tendency to remove her clothes, and Peaches Geldof's on/off boyfriend make up the remaining contestants.
On the opening night of the show, it was difficult to identify even half of them, casting doubt on their suppossed celebrity status.
As the characteristics of a celebrity become blurred, what does the general public feel?
