In an industry driven by gripping storytelling and unforgettable characters, few roles are more crucial than selecting the right people to bring these shows to life. A Caster behind BBC’s top game and reality shows shares what they look for, and delve into the intricacies of working in the sector of casting reality shows.

We’ve all had that moment, watching TV and thinking, “This could totally be me!”. Whether you’re convinced you’d be the hottest bombshell in the Love Island Villa or you’ve got the strategy to outwit the faithful on The Traitors, it can be easy to imagine yourself on the big screen. But what does it take to make the cut for these shows? Hollie Anderson, an Assistant Producer on some of the BBC’s biggest shows is at the heart of casting, selecting members of the general public to be turned into the next household names.

“I always describe casting as a moving jigsaw, if we could bottle what we look for to make people stand out, we would be millionaires.

“My general rule is, would I want to go for a pint with this person?”

Hollie’s journey to a career in casting wasn’t immediate. After gaining experience in local TV and newsrooms, it was the encouragement of her personal mentor, who recognised her natural ability to connect with others and bring out their best, that made her realise casting was her calling.  

“Don’t get me wrong you can cast some absolute howlers, but mostly the progression from speaking to people on the phone to selecting and seeing them having the best experience of their lives is pretty special.”

How the process of casting reality shows works

Having worked on successful shows like Gladiators and The Traitors, Hollie explains how each program presents its own unique challenges and intricacies. 

“For Gladiators, the casting process is quite unusual because of its physical aspects” said Hollie, “Our goal is to find 20 really fit people, who aren’t all personal trainers, that are all from different regions of the UK, different races and sexual orientation. Last year we had a driving instructor and even a wrestler!”

Following the first screening of the applicants, those who progress are invited to try outs, to assess their physical abilities. 

“It’s essentially a big sports day for adults but it’s brutal! We get these people running and doing as many burpees as they can.

“The purpose of those days is to see how fit they are, gauge their personalities and stories but also to see how they interact with other people because ultimately as a character that’s how they are going to perform on the shows.”

Of course, not every programme requires members of the general public to best spandex wearing behemoths in tests of strength and speed. For traitors, while casting involves no burpee counting, it does demand a keen eye for psychological resilience. 

“One thing I look for is do they have a really strong reason to be a traitor? Perhaps they’ve been screwed over so have a desire to get their own back, or have they got a strong idea.”

How to stand out

Gimmicks have become a hallmark of The Traitors. From fake Welsh accents to family members competing together, a new layer of intrigue has been added to the show. Now it seems the gimmicks are appearing even earlier – in the application videos, as hopefuls get increasingly inventive in their efforts to stand out. 

“I’ve definitely seen some interesting ideas that never made the cut.”

“Someone did put one time that they’d pretend that they’re ten years younger. Not sure how it’d even benefit you on the show but it’s little things like that which can make you stick out.

“But in general if people go in completely and utterly themselves, if they’re a natural laugh and have the drive to think outside of the box and make the extra effort then that definitely comes across to people in casting teams quite a lot.”

What not to do

While, there are plenty of do’s that may improve an individual’s chances of making it onto their desired programme, there are plenty of don’ts that can give casters the proverbial ‘ick’. 

“It’s kind of common across shows, people that really want to be on TV give people the ick in casting. Another immediate red flag is the “My friends told me to apply, I’ve never even seen the show” line. 

“But my least favourite is when applicants say ‘I truly want an experience’, like who wouldn’t want the life changing opportunity to appear to millions of people on the tele!”

However, a role working in casting can transcend simply picking names out of a long list of applicants. While the casting process on such shows can last up to five months prior to the shooting of the programme, once onset responsibilities as a caster shift to focus on the well being and welfare of the cast. 

“Obviously for shows like gladiators it’s such a mental and physical challenge, so we are there to make sure people are in the right place at the right time, that they’re eating, that they are seeing medical attention when they need it.

“But also it’s to make sure that these people are having a really good time. When you work in TV sometimes you can take it for granted what it means to be a part of it, I’m always very much of the mindset that it should be an amazing experience for people. 

“I want to be all the contestants’ biggest cheerleader at the end of the day.”

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