Reality TV has catapulted the lives of so-called 'normal' people over the years, launching them into a whole new world of fame.

Love Island, TOWIE, Britain's Got Talent, The Apprentice and The X Factor are all shows that offer budding stars the chance to hit big time.

But while some civilians revel in their newfound fame, others have been marred by tragedy.

Many reality TV stars have faced horrors, including untimely deaths, addiction battles, criminal activity, mental illnesses and business failures.

The lives of TOWIE stars Jake Hall and Jordan Wright were tragically cut short just weeks apart this year.

Many have claimed the 'curse' of reality TV stars dying is linked to the intense pressure of sudden fame resulting in mental health struggles and recklessness. 

TOWIE's Jake Hall

Jake Hall died last Wednesday, aged 35, in an Airbnb he was renting in Santa Margalida after running through a single-glazed glass door.

The Daily Mail's Alison Boshoff revealed how he had made a number of suicide attempts before his shocking death last week – but his friends and ex-partner Misse Beqiri believe his death was accidental. 

He had 'the world at his feet' when he was on the ITV reality show, but became 'lonely and lost' in recent years, battling drink and drug problems, a close friend said.

'He wanted to live like Cristiano Ronaldo but had the budget of a Towie star', they added.

‘There was a point when Jake was on the show when he had the world at his feet. He suddenly had loads of money, and his business went well, but that had not been the case more recently.

'He would put up a big front, but the money wasn’t there any more.'

Jake had arrived at the villa in the north of the Spanish island on Tuesday morning, with neighbours seeing him arrive on the sleepy street with a suitcase in tow.

It is believed he later went on a night out in Palma before later returning to the villa with two other men and three women, thought to be in their twenties.

They partied and played music into the morning, yet around 7.15am the accident occurred, and neighbours heard a loud crash, followed by glass shattering.

The Guardia Civil confirmed there was no 'criminal activity' that took place at the scene, while legal sources told the Daily Mail the death appeared to be entirely accidental.

An autopsy took place on Friday in Palma; however, the results of the tests, which would confirm whether the accident was fuelled by drugs and alcohol as has been suspected, will not be made public.

TOWIE's Jordan Wright

Shortly before Jake's death, former TOWIE star Jordan Wright was found dead after drowning in a drainage canal in Thalang District, Phuket, on March 14.

His body was repatriated to his native Essex, and a post-mortem examination was carried out at Basildon Hospital. 

An inquest into his death was opened earlier last month and has been adjourned until September 14, 2026.

Jordan, who starred in eight episodes of MTV's Ex On The Beach in 2017 and 17 episodes of TOWIE the following year, was also seen acting erratically in haunting footage shortly before his death.

CCTV showed him looking over his shoulder as he sprinted back to his hotel on the island of Phuket shortly before midnight on March 12. 

Police said the circumstances leading up to Wright's death are 'unclear' and it is possible 'other people were involved'. 

Love Island's Mike Thalassitis

Mike Thalassitis took his life at the age of 26 in March 2019, after shooting to fame on Love Island series three in 2017. 

He was found dead by a jogger in a park near his north London home, where he left notes to his family making clear his intention to kill himself.

His friends revealed he had been 'in a dark place' in the months leading up to his death, thought to have been struggling to come to terms with the death of his grandmother and was said to have been dealing with debt.

Mike's death came less than a year after fellow Love Island contestant Sophie Gradon also took her own life, being found at her home in Ponteland, Northumberland, by her boyfriend and his brother in June 2018.

Less than 12 months after Mike's passing, Love Island host Caroline Flack also died by suicide in February 2020, a day after hearing the Crown Prosecution Service would go ahead with a trial for allegedly attacking her boyfriend Lewis Burton.

The death of Mike prompted calls from Health Secretary Matt Hancock for reality shows to do more for competitors once they have become famous.

Following the tragic deaths, producers announced a new duty of care policy towards contestants, saying all would be able to access therapy sessions, social media and financial training, and a minimum of 14 months of 'proactive' contact.

TOWIE's Mick Norcross

In January 2021, TOWIE star and businessman Mick Norcross died by suicide via hanging at 57. 

He made his TOWIE debut in 2011 during the show's second season. His son Kirk, then 32, was part of the original cast.

Kirk discovered his father dead at his home, leading to a relapse in the CBB star's cocaine addiction. 

The businessman was suffering money woes and had taken out a £3.6million bank loan and a bridging loan secured against his main residence.

Speaking about the traumatising ordeal previously, Kirk revealed that he called a drug dealer just moments after finding his late father's body.

The TV star recalled how the incident threw him into a 'massive relapse' back into his drug addiction, but he is now proudly sober.

Speaking to Daniel O'Reilly, who also goes by Dapper Laughs, on his podcast 'Menace to Sobriety', Kirk said: 'At the funeral, I made sure I was sober.

'I tell you this is how bad my addiction was, I was months and months sober before my dad died.

'My dad killed himself, and I found my father. The minute I said goodbye to my dad, straight away that addiction came in.

'I give him a cuddle and kiss and say goodbye, run out of the house and rang the drug dealer.'

He continued: 'That is the only thing that could have stopped me wanting to kill myself. I went on a big relapse.

'You know what I don't want anyone to kill themselves but I respect my father's decision for what he had done - my father is very planned and calculated.

'It was weird because the day my dad died I became a man, I really did. It sounds horrible but this would have had to have happened for me to become a man, but I'm upset that my dad didn't get to see me become the man that I am today but that is due to my dad going, you know.'

Big Brother's Ben Duncan

A renowned socialite who was friends with Prince William and Kate Middleton and appeared in numerous TV shows died after falling from the roof of a West End hotel in November 2025.

Ben Duncan was at the University of St Andrews with the royal couple when they first started dating and was said to be part of their inner circle before becoming a media personality in shows like Big Brother.

The 45-year-old died after falling seven floors - around 100 feet - from the rooftop bar of London's fashionable Trafalgar St James hotel, where rooms can cost up to £1,000 a night. 

He was found dead soon after officers from the Metropolitan Police were dispatched to investigate reports of a 'man on the roof' of the luxury five-star hotel.

A spokesperson told the Daily Mail at the time: 'Officers responded to concerns for a man on the roof of a building in Cockspur Street, Westminster at 23:02 hours on Thursday, 30 October.

'The man sadly fell from height. Despite the best efforts from the London Ambulance service, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. His death is unexpected but non-suspicious.'

As well as the royals, Ben had a wide network of well-connected friends like political fixer Lord Peter Mandelson, former cabinet member turned broadcaster Michael Portillo and designer Nicky Haslam acquired through his media work. 

After graduating Ben became known to the wider public by appearing in a number of TV shows, starting with Channel 4's Big Brother in 2010, where he was depicted as 'posh' in contrast to Bristol-born Josie Gibson, who went on to win the show. 

Other shows he appeared in included Come Dine With Me, Ladette To Lady and Celebrity Coach Trip.

He also presented a number of programmes including More Than A Mistress.

The Apprentice's Stuart Baggs

He was the most legendary character ever to appear on The Apprentice - as his cringeworthy attempts to appear authoritative via a string of catchphrases backfired spectacularly.

So when Stuart Baggs was found dead after an asthma attack aged just 27, the news caused genuine consternation around the country.

Stuart quickly became famous for one-liners, including: 'Everything I touch turns to sold' and 'I'm not a one-trick pony, I'm not a ten-trick pony, I'm a whole field of ponies'. 

Born in Plymouth but brought up on the Isle of Man where his family ran a pub, Stuart, at just 21, would become The Apprentice's youngest ever contestant when he appeared in series six in 2010, reaching the last five. 

Britain's Got Talent's David Watson

David Watson passed away in 2021, aged 62 and was discovered after police forced entry into his house in Altrincham, Manchester.

Upon hearing the news, Amanda Holden shared on Instagram: 'So sad to hear that @davidjwatsonbgt has passed away. He was always up for a laugh and such a good sport on @bgt. We will miss him.'

Concerns were raised by the retired NHS worker's family after he failed to respond to calls and messages.

The publication stated that David's death was not treated as suspicious.

The magician was a firm favourite on Britain's Got Talent. David first appeared in the 2008 series as an impressionist.

He impersonated three politicians: Tony Blair, William Hague, and David Blunkett and did not proceed to the next round.

David returned two years later for series four of the show.

Love Island's Sophie Gradon 

Sophie Gradon appeared on the 2016 series of Love Island and took her own life in June 2018.

Her body was found at her home in Ponteland, Northumberland, by her boyfriend, Aaron Armstrong, who killed himself 20 days later.

They found her in the living room with her mobile phones nearby, and attempts to give her CPR continued until paramedics arrived.

Sophie spoke about the 'horrific' effects online trolls had on her life in her final interview before she was found dead at her home.

Speaking to Radio Aire, the former Love Island star heavily relayed her distaste for viewers forming negative opinions on reality stars before hauntingly noting: 'The harsh reality is, it can end up with that person taking their own life.'

Exiting the ITV2 villa in 2016, Sophie also revealed in the interview that she wasn't prepared for the 'scale of comments' from their 'thousands of new followers' who heavily judged her - admitting: 'It can really get into your mind and really affect you.'

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