Skins voted the most unrealistic representation of student life

Added: (Tue Jun 15 2010)

Pressbox (Press Release) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 2010
Skins voted the most unrealistic representation of student life
The UK’s leading discount code and voucher site has conducted new nationwide research and found that TV show Skins is the most unrealistic representation of student life, with The Inbetweeners being voted as the most realistic.

The UK’s leading discount code and voucher site has conducted nationwide research to find out which TV shows and films portrayed students and their lifestyle in the most unrealistic way.

Voucher code site http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk which saves students millions of pounds every year surveyed 1,267 members of the British public who were studying or had studied in the past to see which TV shows were the most realistic in representing them. Two thirds, 67%, said that they thought TV show Skins, which follows the lives of a group of teenagers in sixth form, was the most unrealistic portrayal of student life.

Hollyoaks is the second most unrealistic representation of student life, with 65% of people saying that they didn’t think the show was realistic. Of those, over half 53% said the biggest factor was that you never saw the university students in lectures, whilst a third 34% said that they were all too good looking.

American TV show Gossip Girl came in third with 62%, closely followed by Grange Hill, 58%, and Clueless with 53%. Of those who said they thought Clueless was unrealistic nearly three quarters, 73%, said that they thought the “students” clearly looked too old.

The top ten most unrealistic representational TV shows for students are:
1. Skins – 67%
2. Hollyoaks – 65%
3. Gossip Girl – 62%
4. Grange Hill – 58%
5. Clueless – 53%
6. Mean Girls – 49%
7. Superbad – 45%
8. Coming of Age – 41%
9. Byker Grove – 39%
10. 90210 – 35%

The Inbetweeners was voted as the TV show that was the most realistic representation of student life with 63% of people opting for the choice, nearly three quarters, 74%, of men said that it reminded them of their time with friends at school.

Mark Pearson, Managing Director of http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk said:

“We get students using the site all the time looking for discount codes and vouchers that help save them millions of pounds during tight times at university. Because of this we thought it would be fun to see what TV shows and films portrayed students in the most inaccurate way.”

He continued;

“The fact that Skins was considered the most unrealistic was no surprise as sixth formers don’t take that many drugs and have that much sex, or at least you would hope. I can definitely agree that American TV shows and films that feature students are unrealistic because they are usually played by people in their 30s!”

Link: http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk

ENDS

For more information contact Gabrielle Lofthouse, gabrielle@10yetis.co.uk, 01452 348211. Alternatively you can catch me on Twitter too @Gabriella_PRowl.

EDITORS NOTES
Mark Pearson, MD of MyVoucherCodes is a regular media contributor regarding online shopping and the credit crunch. At 29 his personal worth is more than £30 million. Mark was previously a trainee chef working for Gordon Ramsay at Claridges, London.

MyVoucherCodes has had sales exceeding £481m in the last year

Consumer savings on online shopping via MyVoucherCodes.co.uk up from £28m in 2008 to £52m in 2009.

MyVoucherCodes is the UK’s most popular discount site.