Sometimes TV is great for escapism and the first thing people want to do when they home is to tune in and tune out with the help of some excellent dramas or science fiction shows. However, the growing trend for reality TV shows and documentaries suggests that there are plenty of people who like their viewing time to be related to what's going on around them in the real world too.

While entertaining or informational reality shows are very popular, there's another type of show that's tempting people to sit down and engage with the world around them. These are the ones that comment on our society and the ways we can change situations for the people around us in a hopeful and heart-warming way.

When it comes to feel good programmes, there are few as successful as shows like the ‘Secret Millionaire'. This programme sees a wealthy, self-made business person facing some harsh realities about life at the other end of the social scale. The aim is for the wealthy individual to hide their identities and travel to other parts of the country to find people who are deserving of their financial aid.

The secret millionaires will then give away some of their money in the hope of making a lasting difference to individuals and communities.

The show has proved extremely popular since it first aired in 2006 and while it started off in the UK, there are now American and Australian versions too. A good mixture of people is chosen to be the generous individuals and the climax of the show is always a rewarding one that defies soft hearted viewers to hold back their tears.

Another programme with a similar aim is ‘How the Other Half Live'. This show has taken the premise of sponsoring a child overseas and asked UK families to consider sponsoring families from their own country instead. Extremely touching, the show sees wealthy families - who have typically come from humble beginnings themselves - looking for ways to help families less fortunate than their own by providing financial aid. However, one of the most heart-warming things about this programme is the way that families from both half of the spectrum view the experience as a way for their children to understand that not everybody has the same chances in life.

Shows such as these also allow the viewers sitting at home and watching their Sky television or laptops to gain an idea of the way other people go about their daily lives.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.