BB FANS

Big Fat Gypsy Weddings - Born to Be Wed 1/5, series 1


Channel 4, Tuesday 18 January
9:00pm - 10:00pm





There's something horribly entrancing about the meringue-shaped barrage balloons that pass for wedding dresses in Britain's travelling community. There's something quite defiant too about their spectacular incongruity; just look at 16-year-old Josie, turning up for her wedding in a dress slashed to her pants. Or little Margarita, who arrives at her first holy communion wearing a pink monstrosity that's twice her bodyweight. In a follow-up series to last year's hit one-off film My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, we once more eavesdrop on these tumultuous family occasions while glimpsing a lifestyle that's full of contradictions. "Traveller girls" are heavily chaperoned, don't drink alcohol before marriage and yet wear eye-popping outfits to attract boys, who register their interest by forcing kisses on their chosen inamorata. It's known as "grabbing".

Radio Times reviewer - Alison Graham

VIDEO Plus+: 9963

Subtitled, Audio-described

Radiotimes

After the wedding...cooking, cleaning and being 'second-class citizens' - what Big Fat Gypsy brides can expect after tying the knot

By Jody Thompson Mail

Big Fat Gypsy Christmas Special

Channel 4 has commissioned a Christmas special of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.

Producers are reportedly planning to build on the existing success of the documentary series – which showcases the extravagant weddings and holy communions of the traveller community – and has already ordered a festive special, which is likely to be called 'My Big Fat Gypsy Christmas'.

A senior Channel 4 factual programming executive explained: "Of course, with eight million people tuning in we would be stupid if we said that was it and we will not be doing anything more on the subject.

"It hasn't just been a success, it's been an astonishing success. No documentaries, not even ones on BBC One or ITV1, get more than eight million these days."

waveguide.co.uk