The Real Deal

De: Caitlin Devlin

Narrado por: Eilidh Beaton

Is it harder to keep a secret when the world is watching–or to tell the truth when no-one is listening?

Belle Simon was just 12 years old when she was one of six girls plucked from obscurity to star in reality TV sensation The Real Deal. Under the wing of dazzling star Donna Mayfair, she and the other five girls were meant to become world-famous actresses, singers and dancers.

But at 26, Belle is trying to live anonymously, away from being loved or loathed. The public eye has never fully shut, however, and when a producer offers Belle a big paycheck to join a reunion special for The Real Deal, she finds it hard to say no. If people are going to talk about that shocking final episode anyway, maybe this is an unexpected opportunity.

Everyone watching thinks they know what happened, but only Belle knows what really occurred away from the cameras and outside the editing room. Is she ready to go back and confront her past? And will anyone believe her if she reveals the truth?

©2024 by Caitlin Devlin. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Childhood actors

Belle’s an impressionable young girl who convinces her mother to take her to an audition. Her mother is cautious of the industry not sure shy little Belle is quite ready for the public eye. Her mother believes in her daughter and allows her to follow her dreams.
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Belle meets Donna a woman who mentors young girls. Donna created a docuseries about six young girls where cameras and mics are rolling the entire time. Belle started when she was twelve and finished when she was sixteen. The story eludes to some huge secret that was taken out of context and aired on tv.
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Ten years later a reunion show is coming and Rupert and Fred invited back the six actors. The story unfolds by sharing both the past and the present while slowly unveiling what happened to end the show.
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The Real Deal is a British docuseries that aired from 2009 to 2014. It follows six children placed in an elite performing arts programme under the mentorship and tutelage of actress, singer and dancer Donna Mayfair. Set first in London, England and later in Los Angeles, USA, the show follows the girls as they attend their first auditions, book their first jobs, and build their careers.
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I am not the intended audience for this concept or storyline. I’m struggling to keep my head in the words of the narrator. This is a character driven story in which I have no interest in any of them therefore I’m not following who is who. It reads like a soap opera with petty drama and gossip. It’s drab.
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Caitlin Devlin wrote an underwhelming ending to a long and arduous journey of a young childhood actress who came up thru the ranks with the help and guidance from a woman who adored and loved her. Belle was on a show for five seasons with five other childhood actors. They became famous together. Each girl wore a microphone on them to capture every word. The cameras followed them everywhere.
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I need to give mad props to Eilidh Beaton for performing the entirety of this story in the most professional manner. If it hadn’t been for her voice acting skills I would’ve abandoned this story from the beginning. It was a pleasure listening to Eilidh Beaton become Belle and for her I give five solid stars.

HATED THIS CHARACTER

The main character Belle insisted on getting everything she wanted just to whine and cry about it after she got it. The ending was terribly disappointing. I don't want to say too much but of all the characters in the book Belle, who always played the victim, was the worst villain of them all.