Roisin Conaty challenges online feedback culture in new series
In her latest endeavor, comedian Roisin Conaty explores the impact of online reviews in the travel industry through her new show Zero Stars, where she and fellow comedian Sara Pascoe visit the world’s worst-reviewed destinations. Conaty expresses her frustration with a culture that obliges consumers to meticulously research their leisure choices, stating, “We can’t just call for a Chinese, y’know? We’ve got to spend 40 minutes combing through the feedback of strangers before we can make a decision,” reports BritPanorama.
Conaty, who recently co-hosted Prime Video’s Last One Laughing with Jimmy Carr, believes that the pressure to curate experiences based on ratings stifles originality and adventure. “The relentless rating… means we can all end up living such carefully curated lives that there’s no room for originality or adventure,” she commented. Through Zero Stars, the duo humorously engages with experiences that other travelers have lambasted, including hotels described as dirty and excursions that received scathing reviews.
Reflecting on their experiences, Conaty recalled a particularly memorable incident involving a controversial leech treatment in Istanbul. “Some of those things really were the worst… But we approached it all with grace, and found that a lot of the reviews had been unfair,” she said. Her show aims to humanize the often harsh judgments found online and question the motivations behind reviews, suggesting that dissatisfied customers are often quicker to complain than satisfied ones.
Throughout her career, Conaty has received acclaim for her work on sitcoms like GameFace and Man Down, but highlights the persistent gender biases she has encountered in the industry. She pointed to the subtle derogatory phrases often used to describe women’s comedy, contrasting this with the more favorable treatment of similar content created by men. “Critics have subtle ways of putting down women’s comedy,” she explained, emphasizing the challenges female comedians face in gaining equal recognition.
Originally from Camden, London, Conaty’s childhood experiences shaped her comedic voice. She fondly remembers her family’s trips to Ireland, where she enjoyed the peace and simplicity of life away from the bustling city. “In the 80s and 90s, Ireland had a stillness,” she said, reflecting on how these experiences have influenced her perspective on both life and comedy.
Conaty’s initial foray into solo travel came at a young age, resulting in a memorable but unsettling trip to Tenerife. This experience highlighted the anxieties often associated with travel, particularly for young women. Despite her cautious nature, her partnership with Pascoe on Zero Stars has encouraged her to embrace new experiences, albeit with an awareness of the potential risks.
Now sober for eight years, Conaty has developed a fresh outlook on life. She acknowledges that while Zero Stars has not completely changed her desire for comfort in travel, it has encouraged her to be more adventurous and willing to take risks. “I’m probably not ready to watch a movie without going on to IMDb first… But I’m going to try to wean myself off them,” she concluded, recognizing the value in spontaneity.
Zero Stars airs on TLC at 9pm on Sunday.
