THE stars of MTV’s new controversial reality television show, which has been slated by fellow Northerners, are going on tour as their popularity soars elsewhere.
Geordie Shore, featuring South Shields lass Sophie Kasaei and seven party-loving friends, has come under fire for the potentially damaging effect it is having on the region.
The series caused outrage among locals when it first aired last week, showing 21-year-old Sophie vomiting, while her fellow housemates behaved promiscuously and were seen drinking heavily.
But now TV bosses have revealed the gang will be swapping the bars of Newcastle for the disco lights of Magaluf to shoot two summer special episodes of the show.
Despite more than 30,000 people joining a Facebook group called R.I.P Geordie Pride to express their disgust, bosses have revealed the series has scooped MTV the biggest audience for the last eight years.
While the second episode, which was aired on Tuesday, attracted 11 per cent more viewers, with 208,000 16 to 34-year-olds tuning in, making it the third highest rated pay entertainment channel between 10pm and 11pm – being beaten only by ITV1 and BBC1.
Earlier this week Kerry Taylor, MTV UK’s director of TV, denied the show was bad publicity for the region and insisted that it shone a spotlight on Newcastle.
And while admitting the characters, were at times outrageous, she stressed they weren’t representative of the whole of the North East.
She said: “We feel that visually we’ve made Newcastle look really good.
“The show has got some slightly outrageous pieces, and we’re absolutely not trying to represent the North East.
“I do think the qualities that come across in the characters – their warmth, their sense of loyalty to each other and their sense of humour – are really admirable qualities and I think that’s a really positive perspective on the region.”
The cast won’t just be visiting the Spanish shores to have a good time.
They will also be expected to earn their keep on the island as they work in a souvenir shop favoured by British tourists.
The two extra episodes are expected to be aired during late summer.
verity.ward@northeast-press.co.uk
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