Big Fat Gypsy Weddings
| Big Fat Gypsy Weddings | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Documentary |
| Created by | Jenny Popplewell |
| Directed by | Morag Tinto |
| Starring | Paddy Doherty |
| Narrated by | Barbara Flynn |
| Composer(s) | Ian Livingstone |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Jes Wilkins |
| Location(s) | United Kingdom/Ireland |
| Editor(s) | George Taylor |
| Running time | 49 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Firecracker Films |
| Release | |
| Original network | Channel 4 |
| Original release | 18 February 2010 – 6 April 2015 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding |
| External links | |
| Website | |
| Production website | |
Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is a British documentary series broadcast on Channel 4, that explored the lives and traditions of several Irish Traveller families as they prepared to unite one of their members in marriage. The series also featured Romanichal (British Gypsies) in several episodes, and has been criticised by some Romani for not accurately representing England’s Romani and Travelling community. It was first broadcast in February 2010 as a one-off documentary called My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, filmed as part of the Cutting Edge series and voted Most Groundbreaking Show in the Cultural Diversity Awards 2010. A series of 5 episodes were later commissioned, and the series first aired in January 2011. A second series began airing in February 2012. A third series was not commissioned, rather the show ended with eleven stand-alone specials.
In North America, the show airs on TLC under the title My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, with the original narration by Barbara Flynn replaced by Ellen K., while the TLC network started airing a spin-off featuring American Roma called My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding.
The show has been criticised mainly by the Irish Traveller & British Gypsy/Traveller communities for misrepresenting them. Jane Jackson of the Rural Media Company (publishers the Travellers' Times) said:
Executive Producer Jes Wilkins said:
Billy Welch, a spokesman for Romani Gypsies, said:
During the episode No Place Like Home, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings had 4 of the top 10 trending topics worldwide on social networking website Twitter.
Television producer Simon Cowell expressed interest in making a US version of the show in February 2011. In June 2011, TLC rebroadcast the show and was filming a U.S. version.
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