{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Use British English|date=June 2023}} {{Tone|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox television | image = The Valleys logo.jpg | genre = Reality | creator = MTV UK | developer = | starring = See below | presenter = | country = United Kingdom | language = English, Welsh | num_series = 3 | num_episodes = 22 | list_episodes = List of The Valleys episodes | executive_producer = Fiona O'Sullivan | runtime = 42 minutes<br /><small>(excluding adverts)</small> | company = True North Productions | network = MTV UK | first_aired = {{Start date|2012|09|25|df=y}} | last_aired = {{End date|2014|04|15|df=y}} | related = ''Jersey Shore''<br />''Geordie Shore''<br />''Beauty School Cop Outs'' <br> ''The Only Way Is Essex''<br/>''Acapulco Shore''<br/>''Super Shore'' }} '''''The Valleys''''' is a British reality television series based in Cardiff, Wales and broadcast on MTV UK. The show first aired on 25 September 2012. It followed youngsters from "The Valleys" (including locations not part of the South Wales Valleys, such as Bridgend and Port Talbot) as they move to Cardiff to live out their dreams with the help from their new bosses, AK and Jordan.<ref name="mtv.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/the-valleys|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327030600/http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/the-valleys|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 March 2012|title=The Valleys|publisher=MTV UK}}</ref> On 1 June 2014 it had been announced that the show has been put on permanent hiatus due to MTV venturing for new ideas and commissioning new shows such as ''Ex on the Beach''.
==History== Series 1 of ''The Valleys'' premiered on 25 September 2012.<ref name="mtv.co.uk" /> It returned for series 2 on 30 April 2013. Before the series began, it was announced that twin brothers Anthony and Jason would be added to the cast.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/the-valleys/377861-the-valleys-new-series-one-cast-member-to-leave-new-twins | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130325111704/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/the-valleys/377861-the-valleys-new-series-one-cast-member-to-leave-new-twins | url-status = dead | archive-date = 25 March 2013 | publisher = MTV News | title = The Valleys Is Back, Twins Jason & Anthony Join Cast! | date = 21 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MTVTheValleys/status/314671554074132482|title=The Valleys on Twitter}}</ref> Cast member Aron also announced his departure from the show.<ref name="twitter-aron">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AronValleys/status/314790439179919360|title=Aron Williams on Twitter}}</ref> The first promo for the second series premiered on 2 April 2013 during a new episode of ''Geordie Shore''. On 23 April, a week before series 2 began, a special episode entitled "The Valleys: Filthy Bits" aired, which featured the best bits from series 1.
On 5 July 2013, cast member Leeroy confirmed there would be a series 3 of ''The Valleys''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://twitter.com/LeeroyValleys/status/352963666624262144 | author = Leeroy Reed | date = 4 July 2013 | title = @jord1995_: @LeeroyValleys your single is ledge........ Is there gonna be a valleys series 3??" Thanks , yeah |work = Twitter }}</ref> On 14 January 2014, it was announced that a new cast member would join for the third series of the show. The cast member was revealed to be Jack Watkins, a 24-year-old stripper. The series premiered 25 February 2014 and was filmed in various locations around the UK and Ireland, as "Valleywood Nights" went on tour.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/the-valleys/399164-the-valleys-returns-for-series-3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116132329/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/the-valleys/399164-the-valleys-returns-for-series-3|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 January 2014|title=Stripper Jack Joins The Valleys on Tour! - MTV UK}}</ref>
On 1 June 2014 it was announced that ''The Valleys'' had been axed by MTV due to the ratings drop. An MTV spokesperson noted "The Valleys has performed exceptionally well for MTV with three successful seasons behind it. However, with our audience always looking for new and engaging content, we're focused on developing new original programme ideas for the MTV schedule such as new smash hit ''Ex on the Beach'' to sit alongside returning favourites like ''Geordie Shore''."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a574766/the-valleys-axed-by-mtv.html|title=The Valleys axed by MTV?|website=Digital Spy |date=1 June 2014}}</ref>
===Controversies=== Even before its initial broadcast the show became the centre of a number of controversies, such as a MTV press release promoting the show was described as "arrogant and quite patronising."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Huw |title=The Valleys: MTV defends south Wales reality show |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19706888 |website=BBC News |access-date=25 February 2026 |date=24 September 2012}}</ref> Journalist Hannah Finch noted that at the London premier, MTV UK's Director of Television, Kerry Taylor promised that the show would be "smart, funny and authentic" but also noted that the attendees were served what was labeled as traditional "Welsh breakfast", but was actually just rarebit cut into the shape of a sheep which she called "an aged stereotype". The premier's decor also featured some incongruous agricultural stereotypes such as bales of hay, a tractor and a "blinged-up" sheep on diamante leads. Finch negatively reviewed the episode itself, stating that from the first moments "it's clear the fears of those who expected to see the Valleys belittled weren’t unfounded" before concluding that "I may not be Welsh myself, but after three years of living in South Wales I can’t say this coheres with an “authentic” portrayal of an area I’ve come to know and love."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Administrator |first1=walesonline |title=MTV The Valleys "outrageous and crass": first review |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/mtv-valleys-outrageous-crass-first-2059827 |access-date=26 February 2026 |work=Wales Online |date=27 March 2013 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=MTV show The Valleys slammed by Plaid leader Leanne Wood |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/mtv-show-valleys-slammed-plaid-2060539 |access-date=26 February 2026 |work=Wales Online |date=24 September 2012 |language=en}}</ref>
{{multiple image |perrow = 3 |total_width = 400 |align = right |direction = |image1 = Charlotte Church Victorious 2013.jpg |image2 = Chris Bryant.jpg |image3 = Leanne Wood Senedd.jpg |footer = The show was condemned in Wales by a number of high profile figures including (l-r) Cardiff singer Charlotte Church, Rhondda MP, Chris Bryant and the leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood |footer_align = left }} The show was condemned by Welsh politicians and celebrities. Two Welsh Labour MPs representing Valleys constituencies, Chris Bryant and Paul Murphy attacked the premise of the show, while the leader of Plaid Cymru (the Welsh Nationalist Party), Leanne Wood called it "quite boring". Plaid Cymru's Culture Spokesperson Bethan Jenkins also said that MTV should have actually visited the Valleys "to see what it is really like" while the Cardiff born celebrity Charlotte Church further condemned the show, describing it as an "exploitative and an horrific representation".<ref>{{cite news |title=MTV show The Valleys slammed by Plaid leader Leanne Wood |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/mtv-show-valleys-slammed-plaid-2060539 |access-date=26 February 2026 |work=Wales Online |date=24 September 2012 |language=en}}</ref>
After the show was broadcast to the UK, many people from the Valleys area voiced their disapproval on social media and online forums. As part of a BBC interview on the controversies, Taylor publicly defended the show saying "It's absolutely not about stereotyping."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Izundu |first1=Chi Chi |title=MTV bosses defends their new reality show The Valleys |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-19817561#:~:text=To%20play%20this%20video%20you%20need%20to%20enable%20JavaScript%20in%20your%20browser.&text=%22I%20was%20born%20and%20bred,and%20being%20from%20that%20area.%22 |website=BBC News |access-date=25 February 2026 |date=3 October 2012}}</ref> Before the broadcast of the third season in 2013, Chris Bryant again criticised the show as "patronising" and noted the results of a survey of 450 valleys school children which he said showed that young people in the south Wales Valleys "want to be engineers not pop stars".<ref>{{cite web |title=Rhondda teens 'don't fit stereotype' says MP Chris Bryant |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-25055279 |website=BBC News |access-date=25 February 2026 |date=22 November 2013}}</ref>
Since cancellation, the programme has remained controversial in Wales, and has come to be viewed as embodying a "fake" depiction of Wales and Welsh working class life. Rachel Trezise noted that The Valleys portrayed it's subjects as "country bumpkins" and Cardiff as a supposedly distant and glamorous city when in reality, the south Wales Valleys is a highly urbanised and densely populated area and the towns depicted are a mere thirty minute train journey from central Cardiff. Trezise further criticised the show for compounding this conceit with pejorative narratives pandering to stereotypes. While unintentionally epitomizing the issue of "outsider constructions" of Wales in its depictions for a UK audience.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Trezise |first1=Rachel |title=Blue Books for the Twenty-First Century" |journal=Planet: The Welsh Internationalist |date=2013 |issue=209 |page=19}}</ref>
== Series ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;" |- !Year !Series !Predominate<br/>location!!No. of<br/>episodes!!Average<br/>viewership |- | 2012 | Series 1 | Cardiff, Wales | 6 | 581,000 |- | 2013 | Series 2 | Cardiff, Wales | 8 | 563,000 |- | 2014 | Series 3 | Cardiff, Wales | 8 | 493,000 |- |}
{{center|<small>Note: These viewing figures are those of ''MTV'' and ''MTV+1''<ref name = "BARB">{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/weekly-top-10?|title=Weekly Top 10 Programmes|access-date=1 February 2012|publisher=BARB}}</ref></small>}}
==Cast== The official cast members were revealed on 7 August 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/the-valleys/361281-the-valleys-mtv-new-series | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120811080258/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/the-valleys/361281-the-valleys-mtv-new-series | url-status = dead | archive-date = 11 August 2012 | title = Into The Valleys! Get the lowdown on MTV's brand new reality entertainment series… | date = 7 August 2012 | publisher = MTV News }}</ref> They are Aron Williams, Carley Belmonte, Darren Chidgey, Jenna Jonathan, Lateysha Grace, Leeroy Reed, Liam Powell, Natalee Harris and Nicole Morris. The series also features two bosses that will mentor the cast as they try to make it in the city of Cardiff. The bosses being Jordan Reed and Anna 'AK' Kelle.
During episode 3 which aired on 9 October 2012 Lateysha Grace left the house after falling out with her fellow cast mates. She later returned in episode 4 when the female cast travelled to Port Talbot to bring her back to Cardiff.
In episode 4, which aired on 16 October 2012 Chidgey and Natalee were kicked out of the house by club "owner"(manager) Jordan Reed, after fighting with one another during a night out.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thevalleysonline.com/2012/10/episode-104-preview/|title=thevalleysonline.com}}</ref> Chidgey is later made a conditional offer (during episode 5) of being able to return to the house and series, as long as it's without Natalee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/the-valleys/367071-valleys-105-chidgey-return-natalee|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107004846/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/the-valleys/367071-valleys-105-chidgey-return-natalee|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 November 2012|title=Chidgey Offered Lifeline To Return to the Valleys - MTV UK}}</ref> He chose to return to the house, however Natalee still featured in the series but only outside of the house. She remained a cast member for the second series and returned to the house during the second episode.
On 21 March 2013, it was announced that there'd be 2 new additions to the cast. Twins, Anthony and Jason Suminski.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/the-valleys/cast/jason-suminski|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414042240/http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/the-valleys/cast/jason-suminski|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 April 2013|title=MTV Reality TV Shows}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/the-valleys/cast/anthony-suminski|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324012428/http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/the-valleys/cast/anthony-suminski|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 March 2013|title=MTV Reality TV Shows}}</ref> On the same day, Aron revealed that he would not be returning for the second series.<ref name="twitter-aron" />
On 30 April 2013 during the first episode of series 2, Anthony and Jason made their first appearances. Leeroy and Natalee did not feature in this episode, despite still being cast members. Natalee returned to the house during the second episode on 7 May after apologising to AK for her actions in the first series. During this episode, Carley decided to voluntarily leave the house after constant arguments with Natalee and Liam, but returned in the next episode. Leeroy returned to the series in Episode 4, and though he did not permanently move back into the house, he continued to make frequent visits and was also featured in scenes outside of the house until the end of the series. In the final episode of series 2, Carley voluntarily decided to return to The Valleys due to her continued issues with Chidgey and Natalee. Jordan and AK then revealed which cast members they would like to continue working with in the future, with everyone being asked to return for the next series apart from Liam and Nicole. In December 2013, Leeroy announced on Twitter that he would not be returning for the third series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LeeroyReed_Vex/status/413033150961688577|title=LEEROY REED on Twitter}}</ref> On 27 January, Nicole announced she would be returning for the third series.<ref name="twitter.com">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/NicoleValleys/status/427926149218697216|title=Nicole Morris on Twitter}}</ref>
On 14 January 2014, it was confirmed that Jack Watkins had joined the cast.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> And on 27 January, despite originally being dropped from the show, it was announced that Nicole would be returning for the third series.<ref name="twitter.com"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Series !!Episodes !!Name<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/news/a397760/the-valleys-meet-the-cast-of-mtvs-welsh-reality-show-pictures.html|title='The Valleys': Meet the cast of MTV show|website=Digital Spy |date=6 August 2012}}</ref>!! Age (at start of series) !! Hometown !! Dream |- | 1–3 || 22 || '''Carley Belmonte''' || 21 || Caerphilly || DJ and promoter |- | 1–3 || 22 || '''Darren Chidgey''' || 25 || Bridgend || Model |- | 1–3 || 22 || '''Jenna Jonathan''' || 21 || Tonyrefail || Model |- | 1–3 || 22 || '''Lateysha Grace''' || 19 ||Port Talbot || Model and singer |- | 1–3 || 20 || ''' Natalee Harris'''|| 23 || Pontypool || Model |- | 1–3 || 22 || '''Nicole Morris'''|| 19 || Swansea || Stylist and photographer |- | 2–3 || 16 || '''Jason Suminski'''|| 22 || Pontypridd || Model |- | 3 || 8 || '''Jack Watkins'''|| 24 || Cwmbran || Stripper |- | 1–2 || 11 || '''Leeroy Reed''' || 21 || Bridgend || Rapper |- | 1–2 || 14 || ''' Liam Powell''' || 25 || Ystrad Mynach || DJ and model |- | 1 || 6 || '''Aron Williams'''|| 19 || Tredegar || Kickboxer |- | 2–3 || 10 || '''Anthony Suminski'''|| 22 || Pontypridd || Model |}
===Timeline of cast members=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:60%;" |+''The Valleys / The Valleys New Beginnings'' cast members |- ! rowspan="2” style="width:10%;" | '''Cast member''' ! colspan="4" | Seasons |- ! style="width:9%;" | 1 ! style="width:9%;" | 2 ! style="width:9%;" | 3 ! style="width:7%;" | The Valleys: New Beginnings |- | Jenna | colspan="4" {{cMain}} |- | Nicole | colspan="4" {{cMain}} |- | Carley | colspan="3" {{cMain}} | colspan="1" {{n/a|}} |- | Natalee | {{cRecurring|Friend}} | colspan="3" {{cMain}} |- | Lateysha | colspan="4" {{cMain}} |- | AK | colspan="1" {{cRecurring|Friend}} | colspan="3" {{cMain}} |- | Aron | colspan="1" {{cMain}} | colspan="2" {{n/a|}} | colspan="1" {{cMain}} |- | LeeRoy | colspan="1" {{cMain}} | {{cRecurring|Friend}} | colspan="1" {{n/a|}} | colspan="1" {{cMain}} |- | Chidgey | colspan="4" {{cMain}} |- | Liam | colspan="2" {{cMain}} | colspan="1" {{cGuest}} | colspan="1" {{cMain}} |- | Jordan | colspan="1" {{cGuest}} | colspan="1" {{cRecurring|Friend}} | colspan="1" {{cMain}} | colspan="1" {{TBA}} |- | Anthony | colspan="1" {{n/a|}} | colspan="1" {{cMain}} | {{cRecurring|Friend}} | colspan="1" {{n/a|}} |- | Jason | colspan="1" {{n/a|}} | colspan="2" {{cMain}} | colspan="1" {{n/a|}} |- | Jack | colspan="2" {{n/a|}} | colspan="2" {{cMain}} |- |}
== International broadcasts ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" |- ! scope="col" style="width:115px;"| Country ! scope="col" style="width:120px;"| Channel ! scope="col" style="width:100;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:85px;"| Year ! scope="col" style="width:85px;"| Reference |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|Australia}}<br />{{flag|New Zealand}} | MTV Australia | rowspan="3"| ''The Valleys'' | 2012–14 | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com.au/shows/the-valleys/|title=MTV Reality TV Shows|access-date=13 April 2013|archive-date=26 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726132520/http://www.mtv.com.au/shows/the-valleys|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|Serbia}}<br />{{flag|Croatia}}<br />{{flag|Slovenia}}<br />{{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}<br />{{flag|Montenegro}}<br />{{flag|Republic of Macedonia}}<br /> | MTV Adria | rowspan="10"| 2013–14 | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.rs/tv/the-valleys|title=The Valleys 3|access-date=27 May 2013|archive-date=13 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313131237/http://mtv.rs/tv/the-valleys|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|Spain}}<br />{{flag|Andorra}} | MTV Spain | <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.es/programas/e4i65r/the-valleys|title=The Valleys - Programa | MTV España|publisher=MTV}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|Poland}} | MTV Poland | ''Ekipa z Cardiff'' | <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.pl/wideo/1588-ekipa-z-cardiff|title=Ekipa z Cardiff - Shows - MTV|publisher=MTV|access-date=23 June 2013|archive-date=19 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619042808/http://www.mtv.pl/wideo/1588-ekipa-z-cardiff|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|Germany}}<br />{{flag|Austria}} | MTV Germany | rowspan="7"|''The Valleys'' | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.de/shows/1588|title=The Valleys - Shows - MTV|website=MTV Germany|access-date=27 June 2013|archive-date=7 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307030010/http://www.mtv.de/shows/1588|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|Switzerland}} | MTV Switzerland | <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.de/|title=MTV Germany | Neue Musikvideos, alle Shows, unterhaltsame News und Popkultur|publisher=MTV}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|Netherlands}} <br /> {{flag|Belgium}} | MTV Netherlands | <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.nl/shows|title=Shows: MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows | MTV Nederland|publisher=MTV}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|Finland}} | MTV Finland | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musictelevision.fi/shows/1588-the-valleys|title=The Valleys - Shows - MTV}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|Portugal}} | MTV Portugal | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.pt/programas/The-Valleys/|title=MTV.PT Programas Serie The Valleys Page|access-date=13 October 2013|archive-date=11 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011070730/http://www.mtv.pt/programas/The-Valleys/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|Italy}} | MTV Italia | <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.it/programmi/e4i65r/the-valleys|title=The Valleys - Programma | MTV Italia|publisher=MTV}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|France}} | MTV France | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.fr/emissions/the-valleys/|title=The Valleys épisode, télé réalité, description du programme - MTV.FR|access-date=9 January 2014|archive-date=31 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231151539/http://www.mtv.fr/emissions/the-valleys/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | {{flag|Israel}} | MTV Israel | rowspan="1"| ''העמק'' | 2015 | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://mtv.walla.co.il/show/the-valleys/|title=העמק - סדרה חדשה! - MTV Israel}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Media in Cardiff}} {{MTVNetwork Shows}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valleys}} Category:2010s British reality television series Category:2012 British television series debuts Category:2014 British television series endings Category:English-language British television shows Category:MTV reality television series Category:Television shows set in Cardiff