Look, we get it, reality TV doesn’t exactly have the best rep. Don’t get us wrong, we love trashy Real Housewives drama, but even we have to admit that sometimes it can all feel a bit superficial and trivial – especially when the vast majority of us will never get to experience the same level of luxe as the team on Selling Sunset. If you’re craving a neat dose of reality without all the over-produced storylines then spy our list below, we’ve found some ace shows that are creative, genuine and, most importantly, entertaining.  

BLOWN AWAY Even the most hardened anti-reality-TV watcher can enjoy this one, since it’s packed full of the same high stakes and colourful characters that one has come to expect from a reality franchise, however with the added bonus of beautiful glass creations to gaze at – how amazing is that? This Netflix competition show follows a handful of talented glassblowers striving the beat the rest and rise above as the best, and we reckon it might inspire you to pick up the pipe and face the gloryhole yourself (we know that sounds incredibly vulgar and illegal, but we promise that these are genuine glassblower terms and not some sleezy and late-night activities).

TRIXIE MOTEL Fans of Drag Race and home makeover shows need to give this one a watch, since it features and follows famous drag queen Trixie Mattel putting together a fabulous themed motel in the heart of super-sunny Palm Springs. Each episode focuses on one room at a time that each follows a specific aesthetic, ranging from space, cowboys, flamingos and a whole heap of pink. It’s a great show that you can devour in one single sitting, but if you’re keen on some more Trixie Mattel renovation goodness then don’t fret: they just released a second season that focuses on transforming the drag icon’s personal home.

BELOW DECK As previously mentioned, sometimes it gets a bit tiring watching the ultra-rich complain about things that none of us will experience – Kim Kardashian crying over losing one earring more expensive that three-months of rent comes to mind – so the fact we get to watch the hardworking people who have to deal with these frivolous folk shine in their own spotlight makes for a pretty nice watch. Below Deck is one such franchise, which focuses on the people working and living on fancy yachts across America, Thailand, the Mediterranean and even down on our shores. It’s fun without being too silly and it still happens to have a healthy collection of good old fashioned drama, if that happens to be your thing (we don’t judge!).

THE CIRCLE One-part Big Brother, one-part Love Island and one-part Survivor, The Circle is a Netflix reality show that you’d be surprised by just how engaging it is and how easy it is to binge-watch, especially given the incredibly simple format that it follows. Basically, a group of strangers reside in a personal apartment (that also always happen to follow a theme – maybe Trixie Mattel designed them?) separate from each other and they compete to become the most-liked person in the whole complex. The catch is that people can either go in authentically as themselves or as a catfish, as there’s no way for each person to know who is actually who. It’s surprisingly fun and it’s simply a matter of time until you start rooting for your favourites.

CRAZY DELICIOUS We can safely say that you all have never seen such a fancy cooking competition show in your life as Crazy Delicious. The show’s fantastical indoor set includes trees that participants can pick apples off and real tomato vines, as well as a prosecco fountain, chocolate soil and enough magic to take place in a Disney flick, and that’s not even the best bit. The show features three foodie judges – Heston Blumenthal, Carla Hall and Niklas Ekstedt – or ‘gods’ who enjoy elaborate dishes before gifting the very best cook with ‘the golden apple’. It’s a Wonka-esque fever dream of a show that while only one season, is still one to check out.