10 most emotional reality TV moments of the decade

This decade has seen reality shows explode onto our screens – and we just can’t get enough

Amy Hart

by Chanel Georgina |
Updated on

Since the days of America’s Next Top Model, The Hills and the like, people are just obsessed with reality TV shows and throughout the years there have been some major emotional moments.

Does anybody remember when Geordie Shore's Charlotte told Gaz she loved him? Or when Love Island’s Tommy was waiting for Molly-Mae Hague with Ellie-Belly? What about when Made In Chelsea’s Olivia Bentley cried at the garden party?

From the absolute shockers, to tears of pure joy, the reality TV of the past 10 years has had us hooked with its drama, drama and more drama.

CHECK OUT: the 10 most emotional TV moments in the past decade

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10 most emotional TV moments in the past decade

Tommy Fury Love Island1 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/ITV2

2019: Tommy Fury holds Ellie-Belly

This was totally the cutest thing ever. Love-struck Tommy Fury held on to Molly-Mae Hague's beloved Ellie-Belly teddy bear while he revealed to the Love Island group that he was choosing to "stick" with Molly, instead of "recoupling" with a different girl. And Molly-Mae was SO relieved that she fell to the floor crying. The whole scene had our hearts in our throats.

Olivia Bentley2 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/E4

2019: Olivia Bentley and Digby Edgley's post break-up chat

Usually-cool-as-ice Liv Bentley crumbled into tears after revealing to her ex-beau, Digby Edgley, how "hard it is" to witness him partying all over the city on their friends' social media accounts. She even confessed to hiding herself away in the countryside. Hun, checking what an ex is up to while you're in the middle of nowhere is not the way to deal with a split. Block, delete, move on – and tell him to get his own friends.

Love Island Amy Hart3 of 10
CREDIT: ITV2

2019: Amy Hart leaves the Love Island villa

Air hostess Amy Hart's heart plummeted to the floor when Curtis Pritchard admitted there was something missing in their Love Island romance and broke off their relationship. Totally infatuated with ballroom dancer Curtis, Amy decided it'd be best for both of them if she took flight (sorry, not sorry), enabling her to heal her shattered self and for Curtis to move on. Bet she didn't think he'd jump straight to Maura Higgins, though… ouch.

Yazmin Oukhellou4 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/ITV2

2018: Yazmin Oukhellou has heart-to-heart with her mum

Such a touching moment between Yazmin Oukhellou and her mum. During a heart-to-heart conversation, Yaz opened up about how alone she felt. Choked up and fighting back tears, Yaz's mum went on to tell her daughter – in her Essex twang – how she'll support her during the difficult time to get back to "how I know ya". Just proves that no matter your age, your mum is always going to be there for you.

Megan McKenna5 of 10

2017: Megan McKenna rages at Pete Wicks

Try to stop your eyes popping out from your sockets with this eye-opening scene. Megan McKenna truly went in at boyfriend-at-the-time Pete Wicks. Screaming, shouting, ranting and hissing, Meg really kicked off following Pete's dirty sexting scandal. Even the producers had to get involved to stop the altercation turning physical. Sh-t.

Kim Kardashian6 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/E!

2017: Kimmy K sobs over Kayne's meltdown

Sobbing uncontrollably, Kim Kardashian-West couldn't catch her breath when she learnt of hubby Kanye West's mental breakdown, resulting in him being hospitalised. Not long after her own unnerving Parisian robbery, Kimmy K was understandably still shaken by events – and this was just the cherry on top. Emotions came bubbling to the surface in an instant.

Tiffany Pollard7 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/Channel5

2016: CBB's Tiffany Pollard mistakenly believes David Guest is dead

It was sad times for Angie Bowie (and the world), when legendary artist David Bowie passed away, but Celebrity Big Brother co-star Tiffany Pollard really got the wrong end of the stick upon hearing the news. After Angie told Tiffany that "David's dead", the American reality star assumed she was on about fellow CBB contestant David Guest. Hysterical, Tiff goes on to spread the CONFIDENTIAL word that their housemate died from cancer. With all that panting, raving and swearing that ensues, you'd think that it was Tiffany who suffered a personal loss…

Nadiya Hussain8 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/BBC

2015: Nadiya Hussain wins The Great British Bake Off

The Great British Bake Off is one sweet treat to watch on TV, and the moment when Nadiya Hussain won the competition was truly the icing on the cake. Fairly timid, and noticeably lacking confidence in her own abilities, it was so wonderful to see her gain the recognition she deserved. Delivering her lovely buns, raspberry millefeuilles and triple-tiered lemon drizzle wedding cake, you can bet that was one tasty win.

Sandro Masmanidi9 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/Hayu

2013: Sandro Masmanidi's backstage meltdown on Project Runway

Drama queen Sandro Masmanidi just could NOT believe that the judges didn't give him the constructive feedback he was craving on his bow-inspired gown (FYI, fellow contestant Helen Castillo had just got ripped to pieces and Sandro was declared safe). Furious, the hot-head snatched the microphone away from this clothes, stormed out the studio, pulled down a curtain, pushed over a mannequin and put his middle finger up at the camera crew. Needless to say, he wasn't welcomed back on to the show.

Charlotte Crosby Geordie Shore10 of 10
CREDIT: MTV

2013: Geordie Shore’s Charlotte tells Gary that she loves him

Oh, the embarrassment. To be vulnerable and admit to the person who you're seeing that you love them… only for it not to be returned. Eesh. Now, that's torture. Poor Charlotte Crosby has been trying to win over Gary Beadle for ages… and just when she thought the pair were moving forward. THUMP. Rejected, once again. Wine, anyone?

WATCH: the cast of Love Island reveal ALL of their Love Island secrets

From the reality genre's humble beginnings in long forgotten, short-lived shows like The Simple Life and early seasons of MTV’s Real World (circa 1992, don’t cha know) came arguably the biggest reform in small-screen entertainment – the noughties’ Big Brother.

Apparently Big Brother is set to return - well, according to the show's narrator - and the iconic reality show gave way to the celebrity spin-off, early seasons of Love Island and then the scripted reality of TOWIE, MIC and Absolutely Ascot (if you don’t know, get to know).

Amy Childs' salon
Here's a young Amy Childs outside her salon ©Getty

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In fact, pretty much EVERYTHING we’re obsessed with on TV today can fall under the Reality TV umbrella, from RuPaul to Gogglebox and I’m A Celeb.

And it just keeps getting better, with the last 10 years spawning some of the most hilarious/sob-worthy/entirely memorable TV moments of ALL TIME.

And as plenty of TV production goes SUPER SIZED thanks to major-scale shows like Game of Thrones, the humble reality programme remains a down-to-earth bastion in a world where being “real” is currency and dreams are but an Insta filter away.

Long may the reality reign continue.

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