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The Real Swiss Family Robinson

The Dye family in The Real Swiss Family Robinson
  • Posted at 4:02pm
  • 02 April 2009
  • by AlisonGraham-RT
  • 9 comments

The idea behind the new BBC1 reality series The Real Swiss Family Robinson is for British families in crisis to be "marooned" on a desert island, where peeing into a hole in the ground presumably puts all of their woes into perspective.

I'm not convinced. It didn't do much for the Dyes from Essex (below). Dad Andy's building firm had collapsed so he, wife Vicki, daughters Courtney and Charlotte and Charlotte's boyfriend Tom tootled off to the Pacific island of Kiribati for three weeks.

They might just as well have gone on a camping weekend in the New Forest because it was pretty clear, as it always is with this kind of painfully self-absorbed, let's-all-find-ourselves, pseudo-documentary, that no-one was going to learn anything.

Towards the end of their stay (and three weeks in an area of unparalleled beauty is hardly roughing it), Vicki, who had two ovens and an espresso machine back home in Essex, still hadn't grasped what The Real Swiss Family Robinson was all about.

"I was really astounded by the fact that we got dumped on this island," she moaned. And what did you think would happen to you, Vicki? That you'd be parachuted into Basra to lead the counter-insurgency?

The whole thing was as boring as watching someone else's holiday videos, as these whiny suburbanites whimpered on about the food and the living conditions.

And what did you get out of it, Andy? "For the first time Vicki and I had conversations, really about nothing." Well, that's just great.

**

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times

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Comments

  • Posted on 09 May 2009
  • at 8:43pm
  • by anonymous

I am quite young and personally really liked this program. No, it never really had a storyline but i really liked seing how they adapted to there surroundings and learned how to survive and how to start agreeing with eachother. It wasn't the best program but I quite liked it.

  • Posted on 25 April 2009
  • at 2:23pm
  • by arthur

Were do i start to comment on a programme that is designed for the average family to take a few weeks away. On an island without all the creature comforts eg. laptops, tv, microwave meals and an oversized supermarket just round the corner. Keep up with the Jones next door attitude towards life. The Family suffers as they do not intergrate or communicate with each other anymore because of the busy lifestyles we live. We all take for granted our family and the relationships we have with our wife and children, why? because we are too busy providing money spending long hours at work to pay the bills. If i had a choose i would love to spend more time with my family towards an experince that could bond a family closer together. Personally i believe in teaching my children to be open and creative mindeded, to be self sufficient. No doubt if i asked my family they would love to go on an adventure as a challenge.

  • Posted on 19 April 2009
  • at 12:08pm
  • by Jim

i think it is actually really good, i really want to have a go at it!!!

  • Posted on 18 April 2009
  • at 6:31pm
  • by imigrant

this program is a f***ing disgrace. Some filthy rich b*****ds who could afford any trip anywhere if they want to being sent to most beautiful places on earth and they still whining. Damn it hurts my eyes to watch this s**t, but maybe that is what producers wanted. Feed them to sharks. Maybe they should send there couple squatters from London. no people who would enjoy such a trip would not make a good show. Bravo BBC another great program for the masses, NOT.

  • Posted on 17 April 2009
  • at 2:23pm
  • by Milly

I think the main problem with these programmes is that there is no real story. As we've seen, people actually do quite well when deprived of their material comforts, especially in places which are outstandingly beautiful. The families I've seen so far are pretty ordinary and don't really have any serious problems. They are also pretty heavily supported ie. aren't doing anything more arduous than many campers. They have local experts to guide them, are given lots of luxuries like soft loo paper, a food hamper, sleeping bags etc. It's barely roughing it. And the challenge at the end? To cook a meal for the natives. This just doesn't count as jeopardy, even in reality tv terms - and sadly, it just doesn't make interesting telly. Which is why, presumably, viewers are deserting it in droves.

  • Posted on 17 April 2009
  • at 2:23pm
  • by Milly

I think the main problem with these programmes is that there is no real story. As we've seen, people actually do quite well when deprived of their material comforts, especially in places which are outstandingly beautiful. The families I've seen so far are pretty ordinary and don't really have any serious problems. They are also pretty heavily supported ie. aren't doing anything more arduous than many campers. They have local experts to guide them, are given lots of luxuries like soft loo paper, a food hamper, sleeping bags etc. It's barely roughing it. And the challenge at the end? To cook a meal for the natives. This just doesn't count as jeopardy, even in reality tv terms - and sadly, it just doesn't make interesting telly. Which is why, presumably, viewers are deserting it in droves.

  • Posted on 11 April 2009
  • at 4:25pm
  • by Zig

Oops! I actually quite enjoyed these programmes.

Makes a change from all the swearing, aggro and violence that make up most of TV viewing these days, and which seems to consist of mainly soaps and reality TV.

  • Posted on 11 April 2009
  • at 9:48am
  • by Laura

theres a surprise, someone always has to see the negative side of things, i think the programme in general is good and teaches people to think that there is more to life than being materialistic,im not bothered whos on there whining about the lack of food,or peeing in a hole, i like the fact that the programme shows you can survive on basics, so stop being greedy britain!

  • Posted on 04 April 2009
  • at 11:13am
  • by Chris

There are two great mysteries about this programme. Why on earth would anybody want to watch it and why on earth would anybody think it was worth commissioning in the first place? Television is in its death throws.

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