The Real Housewives of Jersey will premiere on ITVBe at the end of this month and, in the lead up its release, the stars have been promoting the show and Jersey on national television.
Amanda Burns, chief executive of Visit Jersey, said that the show could showcase the Island’s ‘luxury dining, pristine beaches and uninterrupted coastal paths’.
‘Whether visitors want to get a taste of the “Real Housewives” lifestyle or simply find their balance during a relaxing island break, we hope that the show demonstrates just how much Jersey has to offer,’ said Ms Burns.
Last week, some of the cast were interviewed on ITV’s This Morning by presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford and spent much of their timeslot talking about what the Island has to offer.
‘Following [the interview], presenter Eamonn Holmes said that he wanted to visit the Island in 2021. It’s additional endorsements such as these that can provide a spike in interest,’ said Ms Burns.
Speaking to the JEP, one of the housewives, Tessa Hartmann – who runs creative marketing agency Hartmann House and is the founder of the Jersey Style Awards – said the show was ‘free advertising’ to market Jersey as a destination.
She said: ‘For me, the whole opportunity has been about promoting Jersey. I think that I was also “fangirling” a bit, as I’m as such a massive fan of Eamonn Holmes. You can’t not love him, he’s had a spectacular career. And he is a great marker for how people are going to respond to the programme. To have him and Ruth engaged as much as they were, and for us to be able to share our excitement and explain what Jersey has to offer, is a huge opportunity.
‘Before the show has even started, people are going to be interested in Jersey, Googling the Island and looking it up. Money can’t buy that. Lots of TV content is desperate to get on This Morning. It’s the biggest lifestyle show in Britain and their numbers are just massive. It’s huge for the housewives and an incredible opportunity for us to talk about how much we love Jersey. In essence, that is part of our job. We all feel a responsibility to showcase Jersey in the best possible way.’
And Kate Taylor described Eamonn and Ruth as ‘lovely people’ and said the interview was a ‘fantastic experience’.
‘Wow is all I can say. It’s not something you imagine doing every day so I had to pinch myself.
‘Jersey is the most amazing place. I couldn’t think of anything better than representing the Island that I have so wonderfully lived in for 30 years.’
Ashley Cairney added: ‘My family were so excited and were watching live from my mum and dad’s house. Ben [Ashley’s husband] was working and managed to schedule his day to stream the show. Everyone has just been so kind and supportive – it’s been a positive experience because of them.
‘I’m proud to be a true Jersey bean and it’s a pleasure to show how amazing our Island is to millions of people. Jersey as an island will promote itself with its beauty.’
Following a particularly disruptive year for travel, the show’s premiere could serve as a well-timed advert to help boost tourism.
Ms Burns said: ‘Awareness is key for any destination brand. More so than ever over the coming years, as travel restarts, we know there will be more advertising of destinations and competition will be fierce. However, we believe Jersey is well placed to attract visitors.
‘We’ve recently received accolades from the likes of the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, who voted Jersey the number one island in or around the UK. Additional exposure through the TV show, combined with ongoing peer-to-peer recommendations, is the perfect combination to boost tourist numbers in 2021.
‘We believe that 2021 will see a significant proportion of travellers looking for experiences closer to home and destinations that provide alternative experiences, which Jersey can offer in abundance.’
The first episode of The Real Housewives of Jersey will air at 9pm on Monday 28 December on ITVBe, where Ms Cairney, Ms Taylor and Mrs Hartmann will star alongside fellow housewives Hedi Green, Jane Rayner, Mia Ledbury and Margaret Thompson. In a first for ITV Hub, the full ten-part series will be available to watch as a box set on the same day from 7am.
