Jersey Shore Australia searches for new Snooki

Australia is planning its own version of controversial reality show Jersey Shore. Photo / Supplied

The question is, who will be Australia's own "Snooki", with television network Ten announcing its own TV reality series based on the hit US show Jersey Shore.

With its stunning beauty and "tribe-like" community, the Sutherland Shire, in Sydney's south, has been chosen as the perfect location to shoot The Shire.

Ten has announced the commissioning of the series - which will follow the lives of a group of "charismatic'' and "controversial'' characters.

"The Shire is a fascinating look into a unique sub-culture in Australia and the first time a local dramality series is being introduced to the commercial television landscape,'' says David Mott, chief programming officer, Network Ten.

"The Shire is a glimpse behind the curtain into the heart of Australia as you have never seen it before.''

"From their hectic and crazed social lives to problems with work and family, The Shire will leave no stone unturned,'' Mott says.

Just as the name "Snooki'' (Nicole Polizzi) has become a household name across the US because of the success of Jersey Shore, Ten is hoping the characters on The Shire become some of the most talked-about in Australia.

Jersey Shore, which follows the lives of eight housemates from Jersey Shore in the US state of New Jersey, garnered record ratings for MTV, making it the network's most viewed series telecast ever.

"The genre has been a hit in the US (Jersey Shore) and the UK (The Only Way is Essex), changing the way people view television, and we intend to do the same,'' says Mott.

"The Shire epitomises the progression of reality television and in this social media age, we've built a show that is not only entertaining but capitalises on all the twitterverse and blogosphere has to offer.

"It is the next step in the reality TV phenomenon,'' says Mott.

Production on The Shire starts March 26.

- AAP