There is a huge rivalry on British television between two of the top reality television shows, Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor. Both are broadcast on Saturday and Sunday evenings, and both of these shows pull in millions and millions of viewers every week. But why are these shows so popular?

Looking at both of these shows from a TV critic’s point of view, they are both prime examples of “trash TV”, however they are both very enjoyable to watch.

One of the major reasons why these shows are so popular is because they are clean family entertainment shows that everyone can enjoy, regardless of age. With so many children having televisions in their bedrooms these days, it is fairly rare to see genuine entertainment shows which are aimed at families, but both of these shows are very popular with people of all ages.

Another big reason why these shows attract so many viewers each week is because they both take you on along on a journey. Both shows allow the viewer to follow the stars as the battle to improve their talents and ultimately reach the final. The viewer begins to feel a connection to the stars, feeling like they’re getting to know the contestants’ personalities as well as their abilities, which keeps the viewer tuning in week after week.

Even for those who don’t watch these shows, the media provide so much coverage that it’s virtually impossible to avoid the show completely. As well as media coverage, family and colleagues tend to talk about the show and contestants, particularly on a Monday morning after watching the weekend’s show. The end result is that millions of people get drawn into watching the show, and the problem is that once you have started to follow them, it is then very difficult to stop because they are both extremely addictive.

Even though The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing are not exactly high quality television, it is not difficult to realise why so many people tune in each week. Both are enjoyable family entertainment shows which the whole family can watch together, something of a rarity these days.