Whether it’s the disgusting challenges on I’m a Celebrity, surprising acts on talent shows or some Apprentice candidates being a little too sure of themselves, it is watercooler conversation fodder like no other.
This area has had its fair share of stars of the small screen.
Here’s a look back at a few people who have gone on to fame and fortune via television, with shows that range from the big-hitters, to those – such as Splash!, Life on Marbs and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? – which were slightly shorter lived.
. From ITV Studios Love Island on ITV2 Pictured: Demi Jones from Portsmouth
Demi Jones from Portsmouth, who appeared on Love Island in January 2020 Photo: Raquel Fernandes
. Same Difference
Brother and sister Sean and Sarah Smith from Widley, made it to the X Factor grand final in December 2007. Sean is still a singer and Sarah runs a dance school in Portsmouth Photo: ITV
. Ricky Martin
Ricky, who is pictured with Alan Sugar, won the BBC television programme The Apprentice in 2012. He is from Stubbington and used to work for Matchtech Photo: Stefan Rousseau
. Bessie Cursons
Bessie, then 12, made it to the final of the first series of Britain's Got Talent in the summer of 2007. She later appeared in the film Nativity! and now runs her own theatre adn dance school in Portsmouth Photo: ITV
13. Amba Tremain
Amba, a stalwart of Portsmouth's music scene and the founder of the Urban Vocal Group charity, won the ITV talent show This Is My Moment in 2001 and appeared on I Can See Your Voice in 2021, which saw judges try to differentiate between good and bad singers. The marked Amba down as a 'bad' singer - how wrong they were. Photo: Habibur Rahman
14. Demi Jones
Demi, from Portsmouth, came third in the summer 2020 series of Love Island. She has become an influencer, and also went public about thyroid cancer, for which she has now thankfully had the all-clear Photo: Raquel Fernandes