The concept of twinned towns first began in the 1940s to build relationships between communities from different countries, mainly within the western world due to a commonality in ideology and history.
The idea has given birth to some interesting and amusing pairings, such as Scotland’s Dull and the United States’ Bland, while also combining prestige with working-class areas with Le Mans and Bolton enjoying an unlikely relationship.
Who would think the world of Disney would combine with the simple rural town of Swindon, which they did in 2009? Research provided by Voucherbox shows the complete contrast in both areas, with Walt Disney World enjoying scorching temperatures while the Wiltshire-based town suffers through an average chill of 10 °c.
In the land of television towns that feature regularly on the box have also been thrown together. Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Atlanta are twinned cities, and have both have seen their respective regions thrown into the spotlight, but in contrasting fashion due to the style of entertainment. Geordie Shore first hit the screens in 2011 in the United Kingdom as the success of the MTV programme The Jersey Shore prompted producers to attempt to bring the same level of achievement across the pond.
The reality series follows the lives of eight men and women from the North East of England and their experiences in the city of Newcastle, including the many trials and tribulations of their personal relationships, but overall there is an upbeat vibe to the episodes. It has proven to be a huge success in the UK as the show is now up to its 13th series, which has included spin-offs in Magaluf, Sydney, Cancun and Zante, while the stars of the programme have become household names at least in Newcastle and the rest of the North East.
The vibe of the programme is completely different to the fictional show based in its twin city in the state of Georgia, Atlanta. The Walking Dead shows a post-apocalyptic world destroyed by a virus that has turned humanity into zombies, and not quite the type seen in the early hours of the morning in Newcastle. You couldn’t get two shows further apart in terms of tone and the prospects of happiness, although the similarity in reaction between Geordie Shore’s Charlotte’s breakdown over her latest break-up and The Walking Dead’s Rick’s over the death of his wife was an eerie parallel.
On a serious note, the similarities don’t stop there as both programmes have enjoyed a sustained period of success, which in the current era of television is a major achievement. Not only are their accomplishments bringing joy to their respective networks MTV and AMC, but also the cities in which they are filmed, offering tourists a chance to view the locations with their own eyes.
The two venues are not traditional places tourists would tend to flock to, so both programmes have given their respective cities a chance to shine in the spotlight and have not been disappointed. The popularity shows no signs of wavering either as The Walking Dead has just unveiled its most deadly character to date in the form of Negan, while Geordie Shores’ ratings are only increasing by the series. Twinned cities with a different appeal, but both are enjoying the fruits in which a successful television show can bring.