The Model Agency-How do you solve a problem like John

You'd think John was a successful highly paid the way he acted on last night's The Model Agency.

The money booker, who featured in last week's episode, got in a strop and walked out of the office claiming boss Carole treats him like shit. The drama unfolded as Carole told him he couldn't leave 15 minutes early to see a fashion show, and the following morning told him to 'Turn your frown upside down.' 'It was only a joke', Carole says as she reads an e-mail John has sent explaining why he walked out mid-shift.

According to the agency owner, it's common for John to have a hussy fit during the eight days of show week. 'It's called left-out-itius' she says. Despite this, time after time she welcomes John back with open arms. Anyone would have thought John had it cushy starting work at 9am and leaving at 5.15pm, whereas the show bookers often work till the early hours of the morning during fashion week. If John was hoping for some sympathy he's gone about it the wrong way.

Next week, John finds out his fate, but will he stay or go?

The naive teens who get into modelling-CH4's The Model Agency

What does it take to be a Premier model? Over five foot five tall, less than a C cup-over and you’re considered big boned, giving up a regular life and under the strict control of management, who ‘nurture’ girls from the age of 14.

Welcome to Premier modelling agency who are the subject of a new reality documentary on CH4- The Model Agency.

The first episode last night saw the agency’s bookers at their most stressed during the start of fashion week last September. The team, who have model looks and build including the office dogs, are all owner Carole’s friends, and the MD her brother and trainee her daughter, talk about a family business.

Under the spotlight was Head of Faces- Annie, who desperately struggled to convince 16-year-old model India to stay in NYC where she was booked for shows. Annie was even sent to the Big Apple to persuade India from pulling out, despite the teen feeling home sick, jet lagged and having been told she was fat. Not really a life for a confused teen who confessed she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do in life having joined with the agency at 12, so she quit, all the while tearful Annie telling her to not take her decision lightly as she may regret it. And just to find what Premier call a ‘top model’, a ‘rarity’ confesses owner Carole.

Then we were introduced to model scout Charlie, who throughout the one hour show is seen bringing in new potentials and meeting with young girls and their parents, who enter into the industry with their eyes wide shut.

‘It’s a game of poke where girls are the product’, says Carole of the business.

Must see TV coming soon

This month a new show portraying model agency Premier begins on Channel 4. The programme, The Model Agency, starts during the agency's busiest periods- New York Fashion Week, when staff at Premier organise models for shoots, catwalk shows and castings, as well as carrying out the day to day running of the agency and liaising with walk-in models, parents, scouts, designers and photographers.

The show also includes individual interviews with members of the team, away from the office, with Carole and her bookers talking of their nerves around the fashion weeks and the pressure to the 'the girl' and models for shows each season. But as normal the agency works through its usual dilemmas with its usual jokey squabbles, jibes about tattoos, and the all important group fag break. 
The first episode is on Wed 23 @ 10pm.