Reality television is a guilty pleasure for many of us, and there's nothing more exciting than when something controversial goes down in the lives of those we tune in to watch week-in, week-out. 

Here, we take a look at five moments in reality TV history that have gone down as some of the most shocking to-date.

1) Rachel Reilly returns to Big Brother 12 (USA) for 24 hours, after a Pandora's Box twist

When Rachel's boyfriend Brendon decided to open up Pandora's Box during his time on Big Brother 12, the houseguests definitely didn't expect her to come waltzing back into the house just days after she had been evicted. Luckily for them, she was only around for 24 hours, but she made them some of the most memorable of the season.

2) Teresa Giudice flips a table during a heated argument on the first season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Credit: WireImage

Arguably THE moment that catapulted the Real Housewives franchise into what it is today, as things got heated and Teresa flipped out - quite literally - in the middle of a restaurant during a confrontation with Danielle Staub.

3) Jonny Fairplay has a friend come into Survivor: Pearl Islands to lie and say his grandmother has passed away, so that he can gain favour with his castaway companions

Many say this is the most disgusting lie ever told to further a player's game on a reality show, but Jonny Fairplay decided he was going to do whatever it took to get closer to the Survivor prize of $1 million.

4) Chaos erupts in Big Brother 5 (UK) when two housemates returned to the house after their time in a secret bedsit, in what has now been dubbed 'Fight Night'

Emma and Michelle's return delighted some but threw others for a loop, who realised that their gameplay was now up in the air because they had been watched by the two girls who were back in the game. Things turned violent eventually and live feeds even had to be cut off before things were calmed down by security on-site.

5) Aviva Drescher removes and throws her prosthetic leg during fight on the latest season of The Real Housewives of New York City

This moment is yet to air in full, but the teaser for the season finale is one that has people talking already, and should bring some life back to a branch of the Real Housewives franchise that many have grown tired of.

What have you found to be some of the most shocking reality TV moments? Let us know in the comments below.

by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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