Take a trip with these Travel Guides for some nasty-free reality TV

Not necessarily all the way nasty but the makers came to the conclusion that there still needed to be a mean streak in there.

That streak could come by casting nasty characters or having production staff manipulate contestants into doing things they wouldn't normally do.

Yeah, I know reality TV creators always deny this happens, but does anyone really believe them? Of course they do that - because they're abiding by the "nasty sells" philosophy.

Every once in a while, however, someone comes up with a reality TV concept that completely avoids the nasty streak.

Gogglebox was one of those - though I'm still scratching my head as to how a TV show about people watching a TV show got so popular.

Another one is Travel Guides (Nine, 9pm, Tuesdays) which has been on for a few seasons but I've only caught in the last couple of weeks.

It's a simple enough format; basically it's the same as a travel show but, instead of the telegenic hosts, they send a bunch of "normal" people on the holidays.

I put "normal" in inverted commas, because truly normal people wouldn't see the need to get their heads on TV.

There are five groups of guides; couples Deepesh and Sage and Kevin and Janetta, friends and ex-Target employees Kev, Dorian and Teng, the Fren family and twins Stack and Mel.

As with any show like this, the casting is crucial - include an annoying person and the viewer switches off.

The casting here is spot-on - and there's no nasty to be seen. Even Kevin and Janetta, who are filling the "snob" role, have a healthy sense of self-deprecation.

All the guides are upbeat and keen to enjoy themselves, rather than mock and ridicule each other.

Of course it helps that there's no competition here; no-one needs to "vote strategically" so that they can win some prize at the end.

Still, if you need a rest from the bitchiness of most reality TV shows, maybe you should give this one a go.