Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model

Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model (formerly Britain's Next Top Model) (often shortened to BNTM, BINTM or Top Model) is a British reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of Britain's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modelling industry. It is aired on Sky Living, a British television channel.

As part of the Top Model franchise, it is based on the hit American TV show America's Next Top Model, and it shares the same format. From series 7 onwards, the show has been renamed Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model as it will include contestants from the Republic of Ireland.

Premise

The series features a group of young female contestants who live together in a house for several weeks while taking part in challenges, photo shoots and meetings with members of the modelling industry. Normally, one poor-performing contestant is eliminated each week until the last contestant remaining is declared "Britain's Next Top Model" and receives a modelling contract along with other prizes.

In a recent BBC interview, Elle MacPherson contrasted the show with the US version, describing BNTM as "Uniquely British, the sense of humour and the styling is very British... more hybrid backgrounds... and I think that is really examplatory [sic] of what's going on in the UK today".^[1]

Show format

Each series of Britain's Next Top Model has from ten to fourteen episodes and starts with twelve to fourteen contestants. Each episode, one contestant is eliminated, though in rare cases a double elimination or no elimination was given by consensus of the judging panel. Season 6 saw a live final where the public choose the winner of the cycle.

Judging

As of Series 6, the judges are British Fashion and Haute Couture designer Julien Macdonald OBE, Vogue's Fashion stylist of the year Grace Woodward and model Charley Speed who is also signed to Models 1. Previous judges included Lisa Butcher, Marie Helvin, Paula Hamilton, Huggy Ragnarsson, industry expert Jonathan Phang and fashion expert Gerry DeVeaux. Usually, an additional guest judge will sit in on the panel every week.

Requirements

According to the show's official site, anyone with the right to live or work in Britain is free to apply for the show, but must meet the height requirement of 5'8", and be between the ages of 18-23 at the time they try out for the show.^[2] This is true for seasons 6 & 7. During the first casting episode of Cycle 7, some producers stated that 'The requirements would be stricter' in order to accommodate models closer within the range of the real fashion world.

Exhibition

Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model Live ^[3] was launched by Media 10 in October 2010 at ExCeL London. The event was created to immerse members of the public into the Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model (BINTM) lifestyle. Bringing the TV series to life, the event gave every visitor the opportunity to experience the Top Model lifestyle for themselves. The show featured 45 minute catwalk shows, music performances from celebrities and an exhibition full of clothes and fashion accessories for the visitor to purchase. The 2011 Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model Live took place from 28-30 October at London ExCel.

Cycles

Notes

• ^Note 1 : Cycle 8 auditions began on Monday 14 November in Dublin, and wrapped up in Newcastle on Thursday 1 December.

- http://skyliving.sky.com/sky-living-shows-news-and-gossip/bintm-contestant-call-out

References

External links

• Britain And Ireland's Next Top Model Official Site
• Series 5 Application Form
• Britain's Next Top Model at the Internet Movie Database
• Britain's Next Top Model at TV.com
• BNTMania blogging site