'You'd be better off going to prison': Former reality star spills explosive details about TV show

The reality star has been so traumatised by his experience he requested to stay anonymous. Photo / Supplied

A reality show contestant broke down on radio as he described how appearing on the TV program ruined his life.

The show the man appeared on wasn't revealed during the interview on Australia's Mix 102.3, but news.com.au understands it's a reality show that ran for more than eight years on Australian TV.

During the explosive interview, the former contestant detailed his horrific experience on the reality show and compared it to being in prison.

"We were unable to listen to any radio or TV or talk to anyone," he said.

He added that he was allowed to make one phone call on Christmas Day to his family but said that a producer listened in on the conversation.

The former contestant told the radio hosts that he had access to a psychologist while he was on the show but suspects that confidential details from his sessions were passed onto producers.

"I really do think that the main part of the psychologist on the show was to talk to the producers to get what they wanted and reactions out of us, rather than supporting us," he said.

The contestant said he was regularly fed lines by producers who would say to him, "What we want you to say is this and do it in this way."

The man broke down in tears as he revealed he was kicked off the show after being involved in a scandal that was heavily manipulated by producers.

"I was told the day after (the scandal) that I was being evicted from the show and that I would have no chance of winning any money," he said.

Despite being kicked off the show, he said producers refused to let him go home until they filmed scenes that explained his exit.

"The producer came in … and said, 'Look, we're going to have to get rid of you, but can you hang around for a few days because we need to film it'," the man said. "I was basically placed on lockdown for two days."

Three weeks after he returned home, his dismissal from the show aired on TV and he was horrified by what he saw.

"Was your exit on the show portrayed truthfully?" Mark Soderstrom asked.

"No," the former contestant responded. "I was on that show for three months and one bad turn and all of a sudden I'm an evil villain."

The way the man was portrayed on the reality show completely ruined his reputation, he claimed.

"When I came off the show, I couldn't regain my employment with my employer," he said. "When it all came out … I really struggled with my family and I also struggled with the love interest I had before I went on the show."

He also told the Mix 102.3 hosts that his mental health deteriorated as a result of appearing on the show, and it had taken him almost two years to recover.

"At the end of the day I've got nothing but pain from it," he said about his time on the show.

The man's experience was so bad that he even considered suing the TV station the program aired on.

"I went to a lawyer … I was told straight out the upfront cost to even get it started would be $50,000 to take on the network," he said.

When asked what advice he'd give to people who are considering applying for a reality show in the future, the contestant was blunt.

"Basically, you'd be better off going to prison, to be honest with you," he said. "At least people can come and see you in prison and you'd have support. On the show you've got nothing. It's not worth it. It's not worth the 15 minutes.

"If you want to be controlled for the rest of your life and listed as something that you're not, then go for it. My answer is just don't do it."