Reality TV editor reveals the shocking truth about ‘manipulative’ editing techniques

One of Australia’s most successful reality TV editors has revealed the truth about ‘manipulative’ editing techniques.

Jamie Wiggins, who has worked on shows including Holey Moley and The Amazing Race, told the TV Reload podcast that editing is not to blame for negative portrayals.

‘I’ve worked on shows where I’ve had to portray someone as a villain but it’s never going to happen that we portray someone as a villain that’s a very lovely person. You can’t make the most beautiful, kind person a villain,’ he said.

‘When ex-reality stars say they got a bad edit, we are never misconstruing anything they say. It’s more adding music, looks and sound effects,’ Wiggins explained.

‘Usually on day one we are told this character is the villain. From my understanding, these people [the contestants] are quite keen on the idea,’ he added.

Wiggins also claimed he never changes anything a person has said but just ‘cleans it up’.

‘I’ve never made up something that somebody said. I’ve cleaned up what somebody said but not misportrayed what they said,’ he said.

It comes after executive producer Yana Groves told the same podcast last month the secret to getting cast on a show and the question she asks every would-be star. 

‘In casting, I always ask, “What do you want out of this?” and I’ve interviewed so many people who say, “I’ve always wanted to be famous,”‘ Groves said. 

‘And that’s a very sad situation, because for me under that is an unwritten story that is actually looking for validation. The ones that go in with those intentions don’t make it.’

She added: ‘You need to know who you are when you go in, not become you during the process. It’s about being real.

‘You want to feel like someone is genuine and is doing this for the real purpose of the show. If you’re going on The Voice to sing, I want to really feel it.’