Whether you want to admit it or not, we’re all a little bit obsessed with reality TV. Whether it’s a goosebump-inducing true crime doco or every drama-filled episode of The Real Housewives—we’re here for it.
While we know there’s a lot of streaming services out there right now, we reckon hayu is absolutely worthy of being added to your streaming rotation. With the latest episodes dropping the same day as the US, you can say goodbye to spoilers forever.
Now, pull on your track pants, grab the popcorn with extra butter, and scope out the best shows on hayu.
Love Without Borders
Bravo series Love Without Borders is absolutely one to watch. This reality show follows five American singles, who are seemingly stuck in a relationship rut, as they travel the globe to find the love of their lives. Watch it here.
Real Girlfriends In Paris
Technically not a ‘Real Housewives’ spin-off but we mean, technically it is. Real Girlfriends In Paris is the brand new trashy reality show you’ll hate to love where six American women pack their bags to adventure their way through the City of Lights. There’s true love, drama, unrelenting passion and, did we mention drama? Watch it from September 6.
Made In Chelsea: Mallorca
The SW3 gang is descending upon an exclusive area of Mallorca for a major summer series. The Chelsea socialites will be packing their cases and soaking up the sun in two glamorous villas for a spot of Balearic bliss. But as the series promises the usual cocktail of love, laughter and will tensions rise when a mysterious ex-girlfriend re-appears. Watch it here.
Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City
We're headed back to the beautiful Salt Lake City for season two of our fave Real Housewives franchise (we said what we said). The drama-filled series follows an exclusive social circle made up of six successful women who’ve created their own paradise filled with luxury homes, shopping sprees and multi-million-dollar businesses. In season two we see the frenemies navigate religion, beauty, wealth, perfection and a serious court case. We’re not going to lie, this is one really wild season.
Ex Rated
Ever wanted to know what your ex REALLY thinks of you… this totally unscripted show, hosted by pop culture connoisseur Andy Cohen, explores the growing trend of adult singles who send standardised “exit surveys” to all of their previous romantic partners. Ex Rated is a revealing social experiment that looks at sex and relationships in a whole new light. The series will challenge adult singles of all ages and backgrounds to face raw, unfiltered feedback on everything from their personality to sexual prowess and relationship skills in order to find out where they went wrong and how they can improve.
Vanderpump Rules
Former Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump’s spin-off series Vanderpump Rules is absolutely one of the best shows on hayu. It follows the bartenders, waiters, DJs and aspiring entrepreneurs that all work at Vanderpump’s businesses SUR and TomTom. Season 9 drops 29 September and it's filled to the brim with juicy drama. Some of the cast members have had babies but that hasn’t mellowed them out one bit—expect fights, new romance and heartbreak.
Top Chef: Amateurs
This Top Chef spin-off series is one for all the foodies out there. Hosted by Gail Simmons, each episode two amateur chefs will compete head-to-head in some of the most iconic challenges from the archives. Putting their kitchen skills to the test are a wide variety of amateur chefs ranging from an ex-CIA agent to an architect. They will be paired with different finalists, frontrunners and fan-favourites who will help the amateurs battle against the clock.
The Big Shot
If you were a fan of Bethenny Frankel in The Real Housewives Of New York (us too), then you’ll devour her new reality series, The Big Shot. The fast-paced, high-stakes world of self-made mega-mogul Frankel is laid bare as she searches for her second-in-command—a Vice President of Operations with the drive, vision, and killer instinct to help catapult her brand to the next level. As the competition progresses, the challenges grow increasingly difficult and consequential, putting the drive, vision, and business-savvy of Frankel’s future protégé to the ultimate test.
For Real: The Story Of Reality TV
If you’re a reality TV super fan then this new series will provide the ultimate trip down memory lane. Hosted by the king of modern reality shows, Andy Cohen, each ep will see him deep dive on a hugely popular series that defined a time or generation. It will cover all the guilty pleasure faves like The Bachelor, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the original Queer Eye and a myriad of home makeover shows. Cohen will go back over old footage, relive insane moments and catch up with contestants today, seeing what has become of them after their “15 seconds of fame”.
The Hills: New Beginnings
If like us, you spent your teens watching Laguna Beach and The Hills, then pop this reboot on the top of your must-watch list. Taking place in present day, the reboot catches up with many of the original cast (including Heidi and Spencer, Audrina, Brody, Whitney and Stephanie) as they balance fame, work, families and romance. There are tears, fights and of course heartbreak. It’s also weirdly comforting to see not much has really changed since the show originally wrapped in 2010.
Overserved With Lisa Vanderpump
Real Housewives alum Lisa Vanderpump is no stranger to reality spin-off shows but we reckon Overserved is her best one yet. In each half-hour episode, Vanderpump invites viewers to her extravagant garden at Villa Rosa for an al fresco evening full of unexpected surprises and revealing moments, as she hosts a handful of celebrity guests for an unforgettable night full of cocktails, games, and delicious feasts crafted entirely by Vanderpump herself. Celebrity guests this season include Iggy Azalea, Joel McHale and Margaret Cho.
Summer House
Gorgeous cast: check. Stunning location: check. Loads of drama: check. That’s right, Summer House has all the key ingredients to create the ultimate binge-worthy series. It follows a group of nine friends who spend their summers in Montauk, New York, a beach town on the easternmost point of Long Island. They let loose, living under the same roof which of course means drama-filled romances and infighting in between boozy brunches and high-end parties. Oh yes, it’s highly addictive.
Love & Hip Hop Miami
Warning: this show will induce serious wanderlust for its dreamy shots of Miami beach and it’s sugar white sand. But it’s the music and drama on this reality series that will keep you coming back for more—follows Miam’s hip hop, and Reggaeton music scene. Things are getting hotter newcomers and familiar faces bring music and drama to the 305. All you need to do is grab the popcorn, sit back and enjoy. If you’re really vibing this show, then you can also catch up on Love & Hip Hop Hollywood New York—yes the show that Cardi B was once the star of.
Are You The One
What do you get when you put 20, genetically blessed, self-confessed love trainwrecks on a beautiful island? If you answered absolute chaos, you’d be correct. The aim of this truly addictive show is for these unlucky-in-love singles to figure out which person in the villa is their perfect match (which has been figured out by a team of experts prior to their arrival). Each week they must pair up in an attempt to win the $1 million cash prize. Each time they get it wrong the cash pool dwindles, only upping the pressure.
Southern Charm
Filmed in America’s deep south, is picture perfect, Charleston, South Carolina, this reality show is the epitome of binge-worthy. Spawning seven juicy seasons, Southern Charm reveals a world of exclusivity, money and scandal dating back through generations of families in this tight-knit city. In this group of freminies, one social faux pas could ruin a family’s perfectly curated reputation to generations to come. Between the show’s charismatic gentlemen and Southern-belle there’s romance, infighting and even political drama. We seriously dig it.
Don’t Be Tardy
If you were a fan of the OG cast of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta then you’ll be familiar with the show's outspoken star Kim Zolciak. It was on that very show that single mum Zolciak, who became infamous for her big, blonde wigs, met her now husband NFL star Kroy Biermann. In their spin-off show, Don’t Be Tardy, you’ll follow the duo and their brood of six kids (and dogs) as they juggle life, career and love. Even better, you’ve got eight seasons to work your way through.
The Real Murders Of Orange County
If you’re a true crime tragic like us then you’re always on the hunt for a new dark series to devour and they don’t get much creepier than The Real Murders Of Orange County. The series, which just dropped a brand new season on hayu, tells the twisted stories of some of the most horrific and salacious cases that rocked Southern California's wealthy coastal community. Each ep will dive into a new and terrifying case including a murder-for-hire gone wrong to families turning on their own. Viewers will get a behind the scenes look at harrowing tales of when privilege leads to problems and greed leads to murder.
Dating No Filter
We’ve all experienced the highs and lows of a first date. Some are dreamy and lead to relationships while others are total sh*t shows that provide LOL-worthy stories for your mates for months to come. This reality show covers all of the above and more. In each ep, comedians watch singles go on first dates, providing unfiltered and straight up hilarious commentary on all the shock and awe that viewers are already thinking. Yes, you’ll be screaming at the screen saying ‘that’s what I said’ for the duration of the show.
The Only Way Is Essex
This cult classic reality show has been cranking out the LOLs for over a decade, spawning catfights, brawls, marriages, babies and so much drama. To celebrate, hayu has dropped the most three seasons (and in our humble opinion, the best) so you have a slew of episodes to binge. If you’re not familiar with TOWIE it follows the hilarious antics of a group of young, prema-tanned guys and gals from the town of Essex in the UK. It’s kind of ridiculous and highly addictive, which is why it’s one of the best shows on hayu.
Below Deck
If you’re dreaming of a Croatian getaway but can’t because, COVID, then you’ll want to pop this beauty on stat. Taking place on a luxury mega yacht, the show follows the lives, drama and antics of the crew and the crazy millionaires that holiday on it. If you haven’t heard of this one before, you’re in luck as there are loads of seasons on offer so you have a generous backlog of eps to binge. With a crew full of colourful characters from South Africa, US, UK, New Zealand and Australia, expect lots of LOLs and ‘oh my god did that just happen?’ moments.
License To Kill
What happens when the medical professionals who you trust with your life, start taking lives? That’s the basis of License To Kill, a true crime docu-series hosted by Real Housewives of OC alum and plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow. In each episode, Dubrow will uncover cases involving doctors and nurses who put their patients in jeopardy, using their expertise to harm instead of heal. You’ll get a behind the scenes look at the crimes and how the police eventually managed to capture the corrupt medical professionals who left a trail of devastation in their wake.
Keeping Up With the Kardashians
The OGs of the reality world need no introduction and while there’s a few streaming services that air Keeping Up With the Kardashians episodes, hayu is the only one that has all 20 seasons. So you can re-watch all the drama, all the weddings (and divorces) and all the epic overseas holidays the first family of reality TV has taken over the years.
Up And Vanished
If you devoured the true crime podcast Up And Vanished by Payne Lindsey (and if you haven’t you should, it’s had 340 million downloads), then you’ll love his docu-series of the same name. Now before you think this is just ‘another crime doco’, remember Lindsey helped find the killers of the cold case he investigated in his podcast so yea, he’s legit. In this show, you’ll go along with Lindsey and his team of investigators as they search for answers to help the victims’ families gain a sense of closure. Each ep features a different case of a missing person with new witness interviews and persons of interest confronted.
Dr. 90210
LA is the mecca of plastic surgery and it's not short of spawning a reality show or ten, but this newbie to hayu is a must watch. This reboot of Dr. 90210 (which originally ran for four years) has an all-new all-female cast of four surgeons working on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. As well giving Hollywood’s elite a little nip tuck, this fly-on-the-wall series will also cover some pretty gnarly surgeries including reconstruction and fixing up botched procedures—it’s not for the easily squeamish that’s for sure.
Million Dollar Listing
This show has all the hallmarks of our favourite kind of reality show, drama with a solid serving of property porn. With two series spanning both Los Angeles and New York, there’s a stack of eps for you devour this week—18 seasons to be precise. In this show, the agents are just as extra as the properties, so you know you’re in for a goodie. We’re talking $50 million-dollar penthouses, in pool cinemas (yes, really), walk-in closets that are the size of a large apartment, celebrity clients and sneaky deals. Yep, it’s juicy as hell.
Kim Kardashian-West: The Justice Project
If Keeping Up With The Kardashians isn’t your bag (hayu has all 18 seasons available FYI) and you prefer something a little darker, then check out documentary The Justice Project. The eye-opening doco follows Kim Kardashian West as she interviews inmates who bravely share the story of how they ended up behind bars. You’ll need to keep the tissues close for this as the heartbreaking stories shared will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Made In Chelsea
If you ever wanted to know how the other half live, then Made in Chelsea is your go-to. Following the lives of the genetically-blessed elite in London’s most expensive borough Chelsea, this crew know how to play hard (the work part doesn’t really come into it). From vacays in Ibiza, Italy and New York, this pervy, fly-on-the-wall series will become an obsession in no time. Even better? There’s 21 seasons for you to catch up on.
Top Chef
We love our food and any show that celebrates it is a win in our book. This Emmy-award-winning series, hosted by Padma Lakshmi and chef Tom Colicchio, is at the top of our binge list. The premise is simple, armed with their culinary skills, professional chefs from across the US do battle in the kitchen to be crowned the ultimate “top chef”. What we love the most about this show is that all contestants are already successful in their own right, so the dishes they plate up are drool-worthy works of art. You’ll want to keep the snacks close for this one epic hayu show.
Got Stan too? Check out the best new shows to binge.
Editor's note: Urban List editors independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. Urban List has affiliate partnerships, so we get revenue from your purchase.
Image Credit: hayu