ummmm - //Andy - I'd agree if they participated against their will. A few of them were interviewed on This Morning....and they loved it. //
I understand what you are saying - but to does rather play on the desire of some people to get on TV.
Do you remember 'The Word'? They used to have a section called 'I'll do Anything to get on TV' - and they did - some of the things were just horrible!
OK, it's a lesser version, but the principle is the same.
Just because people are willing to humiliate themselves doesn't mean it's automatically a good idea to facilitate that willingness in the name of entertainment.
Ten years ago, we looked on in horror at the Japanese game show Endurance, introduced to us by Clive James - now we have 'I'm A Celebrity' offering exactly the same scenarios, and no-ne bats an eyelid.
Availability and desirability are not always the same thing.