Signed by Katie Price

Signed by Katie Price (formerly Discovered by Katie Price) is a British reality television show aired on Sky Living, in which 13 hopefuls compete for a management contract with management company Blacksheep Management owned by glamour model Katie Price. The winner received a management contract, a mentorship with Price, yearly calendars, red carpet events, overseas jobs, magazine deals, Range Rover for a year, a spread within a fashion magazine which also includes appearing on the front cover and a holiday in Maldives. Other benefits include a car, holiday, money, or an apartment among other things.

It is one of the first show to be produced by Price's own production company Pricey Media.

Panel Judges

Glen Middleham became a judge after being named the Executive producer of Signed by Katie Price, He is also the a co-director of Pricey Media Ltd and is an award winning producer after working with and producing such shows as Ant & Dec, Dame Shirley Bassey, Cat Deeley, Kelly Brook, Russell Brand, Pavarotti and Vernon Kay.^[1]

Bayo Furlong was selected as a judge because of his extensive experience as a casting director, specialising in Street Casting.^[2]

Katie Price created the show to search for the next big thing with national and international success including US and UK Television shows, Australian Shoe Line and various product lines after her global success as one of the longest standing most successful models in the UK.^[3]

Auditions

Auditions were held in four of the United Kingdom's biggest cities including:

1. Leeds;
2. Bristol;
3. London;
4. Birmingham

Over 10,000 people auditioned^[4] for Signed By Katie Price across all four locations. Contestants auditioned in front of the three Judges; Glen Middleham, Bayo Furlong and Katie Price.

Episode 1

Contestants audition in front of the three judges in their local shopping centres in front of the general public. Each contestant auditions individually and walks down a catwalk before having their photo taken by a photographer. After having their photograph taken the image is shown on a screen for the judges to look at while they are interviewing the contestant. If the judges want to see more of each contestant they are instructed to change into their swimwear or lingerie before walking the catwalk again. Each contestant receives criticism and feedback but only 50 contestants are chosen from the live auditions to attend bootcamp.

Episode 2

The 50 selected contestants from Episode 1 (Auditions) head to bootcamp. The finalists have only 48 hours to display their marketability using their personality, creativity and flair.^[5] The first task set by Katie Price during the bootcamp workshop is for female contestants to remove all makeup and strip down to their underwear, while the male contestants strip down to black and pink underwear where all contestants are reviewed by the panel of judges where they will choose their top 12 contestants. The Final contestants chosen are Rehea Watson, Nathan DiCarlo, Tayla-Jay Harris, Melissa Reeves, Susie Whiteley, Billy Harding, Jemma Henley, Jamie Roche, Sarah Meade, Kirsten Van Terheyden, Rylan Clark and Amy Willerton.

Episode 3

The final 12 contestants have been chosen and have moved into a luxury house. The first assignment is to participate in an equestrian style photo shoot on Katie Prices ranch. The second assignment for the episode is for each contestant to participate in an interview with UK Newspaper The Sun. The aim of the challenge is to learn the art of "No Comment" when dealing with the press. The contestants that did not impress the judges and were eliminated were Nathan DiCarlo and Rehea Watson leaving 10 contestants remaining.^[6]

During the eliminations a wildcard (Ben Sissman) entry enters the competition to create the top 13 contestants.

Episode 4

The final 11 contestants next assignment is to create the ultimate campaign poster built around a product with a brief provided by the judges. Tayla-Jay Harris is eliminated after failing to impress the judges and during eliminations wildcard entry (Ben Sissman) leaves the competition.^[7]

Episode 5

Only 9 contestants remaining are given the next assignment by Katie Priceto generate self-publicity by creating an online viral video campaign about themselves. Rewarding the contestants for their efforts in the assignment Katie invites them to a star-studded glittering party where she watches their every moves as a hidden challenge.^[8] Melissa Reeves and Susie Whitely are eliminated from the competition for failing to impress the judges.

Episode 6

The final 7 contestants are given the assignment to have a complete makeover. After the makeover each contestant must to take on a photo shoot and sell their new image with confidence.^[9] Billy Harding and Jemma Henley are eliminated due to their failure to impress the judges leaving the remaining contestants to form the final 5.

Episode 7

The final 5 contestants are given their next assignment of being secretly judged by a handpicked focus group. Each contestant listens in as they are judged. Each contestant is given a score out of 10 by the focus group after looking at their recent photoshoots and watching their video, the final score will count towards their chances of elimination. The next assignment they are given is to sell themselves to the directors of Blacksheep Management (Danny Infield and Andrew Antonio). Danny Infield is Katie Price's brother who has handled her finances for the last 15 years and Andrew Antonio has handled her business affairs for the last 9 years. During these challenges Katie is judging them on their ability to promote themselves. Jamie Roche and Sarah Meade are eliminated leaving Kirsten Van Terheyden, Rylan Clarke and Amy Willerton to make up the final 3.^[10]

Episode 8

During Episode 8 the final 3 contestants have to shoot a campaign shoot. The winner will receive their own perfume and the campaign photos will be used to promote their upcoming perfume. Once the winner is announced they will participate in a press launch for their upcoming perfume. The second assignment is to participate in a photo shoot that they direct with Katie and the winner will use the photos for their press after being crowned the winner of Signed by Katie Price. During the final episode Katie eliminates another contestant. Kirsten Van Terheyden is eliminated during a final interview with Katie in her house leaving Rylan Clark and Amy Willerton as the final 2. During a press call each contestant explains their perfumes and photo shoot for the campaign and also participates in a Q&A with the public and press.

The Winner

During Episode 8 the judges deliberate and Katie announces the winner as Amy Willerton leaving Rylan Clark as the runner-up.^[11]

Controversy

Following her win, the prizes and a number or promises made by Katie Price and her management failed to materialise for the winner - Amy Willerton. She was asked to pay £10,000 to insure her "free" Range Rover for a year, a holiday in The Maldives turned into Marbella and a cover shoot with OK! magazine disappeared. She eventually refused to sign the modelling contract offered to her by Blacksheep Management, as she'd lost confidence in their ability to deliver on promises made.

Finalists

Reaction

Readers of UKGameshows.com named it on a two way tie, the seventh worst new game show of 2011 in their "Hall of shame" poll.^[12]

References