In the 90s, reality TV descended on Manchester. Students were offered free rent — in exchange for filming their lives

Plus: We're in the FT!

Dear members: It’s 1993 and you’ve finally made it out of your parents’ house, and even better, out of the South. You’re in the greatest city in the world! And the rent in your student house is completely paid for. Not by the Bank of Mum and Dad — but the BBC.

That’s right: you’re one of the cast of the new reality TV show ‘The Living Soap’, and you’re going to go to university, day in, day out, with a camera crew in your face. What could go wrong? Student and writer Jacob Hartley delves into the story of one of the UK’s first reality shows, set right here. But first: Man City are claiming to be the victim of “discrimination against Gulf ownership” and a statue of Victoria Wood was mown down by a taxi — all in your news briefing. And a bit of news about us!

🎂 It’s our birthday! The first Mill newsletter was sent four years ago, and we’re celebrating with 75 members at our sold-out birthday party event tonight. And we have some birthday news: Eagle-eyed subscribers to the Financial Ti…