The programme – which claims to follow the ‘glamorous lives’ of seven Jersey women – was received positively by a number of online commentators, with many describing Jersey as ‘beautiful’. It is hoped the show might entice a new and younger demographic of visitors to the Island.
As well as featuring on national television weekly, all ten episodes of the series are available to watch on the ITV Hub.
Reacting to the show, one London-based Twitter user said: ‘Jersey looks beautiful’, with another from Leeds posting: ‘I’m loving Jersey. [I] actually love all the ladies so far and what a gorgeous place to live.’ Another user tweeted: ‘Really enjoyed watching this and seeing beautiful Jersey.’
Meanwhile, viewer Simon Ward said: ‘Real Housewives of Jersey is nothing like the real housewives of Jersey and of course it is not meant
to be. Jersey looks fabulous, which is the best thing about the show.
It may help tourism a bit.’
One of those who contributed to the show is Marc Le Cornu, an aerial photographer and founder of Bam Perspectives, who said: ‘I hope the aerial footage that the show used will mean that we show off Jersey to a whole new audience and sell the Island as the tourist destination that we should be. There is obviously a lot of negativity around the show but I think people need to look past that and see it as comedy and just a bit of fun. It is another chance for Jersey to show off its beauty to a new audience. I think the kind of people that watch these shows will enjoy it and see [the Island] in a different way – hopefully we will get a new bunch of visitors coming to Jersey.’
Speaking a few hours after the series premiered, one of the housewives, Tessa Hartmann, thanked fans for the ‘amazing messages and positivity’.
However, the show has not been a hit with everyone and has drawn some criticism for not being representative of the lives of average Islanders.
Speaking on Twitter, Julia Porter said: ‘Oh god. Literally cringing at Real Housewives of Jersey. [I] really hope that most people realise that this dreadful advert for the Island is not how the majority of us live our lives.’
And writing on Facebook, Colin Mourant said: ‘What an embarrassment. What [do] people think of this outside the Island? They must think we are all tax-dodging snobs.’
Meanwhile, during Monday’s episode some eagle-eyed viewers spotted a ‘cheeky’ prank that one beachgoer played on the film crew.
In the episode, immediately after housewife Kate Taylor arrives at a party at Ouaisné on a jet ski, a passerby walks into shot and pulls the rear of his swimming shorts down. Although potential names of the joker have been put forward on social media, no one has yet come forward to claim responsibility for the stunt.
