Reality TV stars win jobs battle

STARS of the reality TV show Temptation Island have set a precedent in winning their five-year court battle to be treated as staff of the TV company.

The court of appeal decision against production company Glem and TF1 gives reality TV stars the same rights and benefits as other workers on contrat de travail à durée déterminée.

Edouard Boccon-Gibod, president of TF1 Production, says the decision is a massive blow for programme makers.

Stars’ lawyer Jérémie Assous had argued that demands from the production company for candidates to be on permanent standby for filming, with wake-up hours and times they needed to be on screen, all amounted to working practices.

L’Ile de la Tentation sees couples split up to spend 12 days on an exotic holiday surrounded by attractive singles.

More than 120 candidates from Temptation Island and other shows have launched similar claims against Glem and other companies.

The court overturned a previous ruling fining the company for “undeclared work”. Mr Boccon-Gibod now wants the contestants to repay the €27,000 damages they won.