confessional television

(Broadcasting) television programmes, esp talk shows, in which members of the public reveal their private lives, personal problems, etc

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

References in periodicals archive ?

WHEN Trisha Goddard talks about her life, she sounds like one of the guests on her confessional television show.

I couldn't do a show on my life .. no-one would believe it; Agony aunt Trisha Goddard is well qualified to offer advice in her new book - she's a survivor

Part of the reason for the rise in confessional television is that people hunger to know somebody deeply.

Everybody's got a hungry heart: an interview with Ron Hansen

Confessional television may have began in the United States with Oprah Winfrey and Jerry Springer, but in recent years the British talk show has also proved popular with viewers.

Forgive me audience for I have sinned; First there was Oprah and then Jerry Springer who introduced us to confessional television - but it's not just in the USA where these shows thrive. Hannah Stephenson reports

In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Norman said: "I love my daughter, but she is treating our lives like one of her confessional television programmes which I find quite degrading.

SHE ACTS LIKE A 6-YR-OLD; TV Vanessa's heartbroken father hits out after she vows never to see him again

AFTER Vanessa Feltz's recent demise as the queen of confessional television, all eyes are on Trisha Goddard.

Confessional television asks ordinary people to hang their dirty washing out in front of a live studio audience - and the nation.

LAST NIGHT; Chat show queen with honesty to survive

It would be interesting to get her views on why on earth people are happy to appear on the avalanche of tacky confessional television shows.- RR

Books: Signing on to the power of trees

But the producer still hasn't twigged that you need a good fight going to make confessional television work.

Chat show queen must talk her way out of trouble; THE VANESSA SHOW (BBC1)

Michael thinks Sex Wars will have problems succeeding, either as a serious discussion show or as confessional television - because Scots are too shy.