'I watch reality TV for a living. These 8 shows were the best of 2025.'

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Reality TV is the true love of my life, so it helps that it's also a big part of my job.

This year has been an especially good year to be a reality TV fan. Oh boy, we have been fed! In 2025, I don't think I had a moment of my day that couldn't be filled with an incredible season of reality TV excellence.

But what were the best of the best?

I'm not talking about the shows everyone watched like Married at First Sight or The Block, but the reality shows that might have slipped through the cracks of your TV schedule.

Thank me later!

Australian Survivor: Australia Vs The World (Season 13).

This was 10 episodes of must-see reality TV AND it happened to be the last time we'll ever see Jonathan LaPaglia as Survivor host. Welp.

Australian Survivor: Australia V The World was an action-packed, all-star season featuring iconic Australian players like King George, Shonee Bowtell and David Genat facing legends from the global franchise, including Parvati Shallow, Cirie Fields and Tony Vlachos.

Watch the hosts of The Spill discuss David stepping in as Survivor host next season. Post continues after video.

It was a time to be alive!

The season was praised by Survivor fans for its fast-paced, cutthroat gameplay and was rightly labelled one of the greatest seasons of all time. Amen.

You can watch it on 10Play.

Love Island UK (Season 12).

The 2025 season of Love Island UK was incredible viewing. Was it extremely toxic? Yes. Was it still one of the most enthralling seasons in years? Also yes.

Bringing together a bunch of new Islanders looking for love (and also fame), chaos quickly unfolded with multiple love triangles, including one featuring semi-professional footballer Harry, a 'mean girl' clique forming, and nonstop drama.

Believe me, strap in for a wild ride.

You can watch it on 9Now.

Image: 9Now.

Love Island USA (Season 7).

Hot on the heels of Love Island UK is the American version, which has slowly but surely been growing in popularity in the US and is now a fully-fledged phenomenon.

Season 6 was sensational and the 2025 season is just as gripping.

The 2025 season of Love Island USA, hosted by Ariana Madix, delivered an explosion of drama from an iconic cast including single mum Huda, viral TikToker Ace and a whole host of chaotic hotties.

While not everyone found lasting love, the season was a standout for its shocking Casa Amor twist and messy feuds that made it must-see reality TV.

You can watch it on Stan.

Traitors US (Season 3).

If you know, you know, and true reality TV fans definitely know that The Traitors US has become an elite reality TV show.

Basically, the show hosts a bunch of celebs in a mansion in Scotland, who are asked to decipher who among them are Faithfuls and who have been chosen as Traitors.

Hosted by the king of camp, Alan Cumming, the season featured a star-studded cast including Tom Sandoval, Chrishell Stause, Dylan Efron, Gabby Windey, Bob the Drag Queen, and multiple Survivor legends.

I don't want to spoil too much but… just watch it.

You can watch it on 10Play.

Gabby became an instant icon. Image: 10Play.

Celebrity Traitors UK (Season 1).

This is the funniest season of reality TV I've watched simply because everyone who is competing on it is so bad at Traitors.

After a few seasons of normies, the first season of Celebrity Traitors UK made its debut, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, featuring a star-packed cast including Alan Carr, Stephen Fry, Charlotte Church, Jonathan Ross, and Celia Imrie, all competing for charity.

The season has gone viral on social media for the Faithfuls… ummm… just being terrible at this game. Every episode, they hilariously fail to identify the Traitors, banishing each other — and it's made for hysterical viewing.

Come for the hectic gameplay, stay for everything Alan Carr says.

You can watch it on 10Play.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Season 6).

When it comes to The Real Housewives, no one is doing it like Salt Lake City.

Every season, this show goes from strength to strength, solidifying its status as the strongest cast since The Real Housewives of New York City.

The 2025 season features OG wives Lisa Barlow, Mary Cosby, Heather Gay, Whitney Rose and Meredith Marks, alongside newer women Angie Katsanevas and Bronwyn Newport.

These ladies are simply operating at a higher frequency than everyone else. Season 6 has been constant drama, feuds and a chaotic crossover with Below Deck Down Under.

You can watch it on Hayu.

Image: Bravo.

Southern Hospitality (Season 3).

Run don't walk to watch Southern Hospitality.

The series centres around the messy staff of the Republic bar, their feuds, romances and side-hustles. In the middle of the action is aspiring DJ Maddi Reese and model Joe Bradley, the show's will-they-won't-they couple.

Plenty of the drama centres on cheating rumours and workplace alliances, with their boss Leva Bonaparte struggling to manage her messy team.

Trust me: this is the show you need to jump on now before it blows up. It's already delivering the best Bravo drama since early Vanderpump Rules.

You can watch it on Hayu.

Below Deck (Season 12).

Below Deck and its many spin-offs continue to be some of the most popular Bravo shows out there.

But the 2025 season of Below Deck has (pardon the pun) blown the recent seasons out of the water. Simply put: this season was pure drama.

Set aboard a luxury motor yacht in St. David, Captain Kerry Titheradge is joined by returning Chief Stew Fraser Olender, but it's the romance between the crew that makes this season one of the best.

Basically, everyone is hooking up with each other, including the crew and a guest, and it's absolute mayhem (but muchly entertaining).

You can watch it on Hayu.

Feature image: 10Play.