Andrew Davies compares Jane Austen works to reality television

Renowned screenwriter Andrew Davies has drawn a direct comparison between the literary works of Jane Austen and contemporary reality television programs, specifically likening the author's characters to participants in the show Made in Chelsea. Speaking in London on Monday, Davies explained his creative process regarding an adaptation of Jane Austen's unfinished novel, The Watsons, noting that the young men and women within the narrative are very analogous to the figures seen in the Channel 4 reality series.

This is not the first time Davies has linked Austen's Regency-era settings with modern unscripted television formats. The writer previously described his 2019 television adaptation of Sanditon as Love Island situated within Austen's world. Davies defended the thematic relevance of these comparisons, stating that observing such dynamics is stimulating really for relationships and ideas, while also noting his intention of bringing out the sex that's inherent in Austen.

Academic and literary perspectives offer further context to these modern comparisons. Joe Bray remarked that Jane Austen was a shrewd observer of the fashionable manners and fads adopted by the young, adding that the plots of most of her novels are driven by sexual attraction and/or secret liaisons and engagements. Bray suggested that the author's figures would make perfect reality show contestants and that, while certainty is impossible regarding whether Austen herself would view Made in Chelsea or Love Island, she would be interested at least.

Discussion surrounding these television and literary crossovers has extended to online platforms, where Reddit users debated potential character inspirations by asking who do we think the character 'Kyle' is based off? with specific mentions of Spencer Matthews and Jamie Laing. Meanwhile, broader cultural commentary has highlighted both similarities and stark differences in how courtship is structured across eras.

Author Curtis Sittenfeld observed that reality dating shows are so formulaic, and courtship in Austen's time was rigid and proscriptive. University of Sheffield academic John Mullan pointed out distinct operational mechanics within the historical fiction, noting that in Austen's fiction, courtship mostly takes place under the eyes of others. Mullan also raised questions regarding narrative balance by asking what about propriety, restraint, repression? observing that these elements are also key to Austen’s stories and characters.

The intersection of Austen adaptations and modern television production also involves notable industry figures. Dolly Alderton, who serves as writer and executive producer for a forthcoming Netflix adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, previously worked as a story producer on Made in Chelsea. Further academic input from University College London accompanies the ongoing discourse surrounding how classic literature is interpreted for contemporary audiences.