Celebs Go Dating is back for its 10th series tonight - and promises more dating disasters and tantrums than ever.
The hit E4 reality show will follow a brand new bunch of single celebrities wanting to meet their match, with the help of experts Paul C Brunson and Anna Williamson at the London-based agency.
The line-up includes Married At First Sight’s Jessika Power, who recently moved to Manchester, columnist Ulrika Johnson, and The Apprentice’s Ryan-Mark Parsons.
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Life coach Anna, who is on hand to work through the confidence and insecurities of the celebrities, hails the new series as one for many firsts, with it being the ‘spiciest’ yet.
And she has her own advice for singletons wanting to get back into dating this year, along with what couples can do to add some spark into their relationships this gloomy January.
“There are more tears and tantrums, highs and lows, like we’ve never experienced on Celebs Go Dating,” the 40-year-old told the Manchester Evening News.
“There are a few firsts… the worst feedback in the history of the show and a celebrity who almost quits; it’s definitely spicy.”
Filming began for the latest series in October, and was meant to finish before Christmas but fears over the Omicron variant scuppered plans.
The team recommenced this new year, and only just finished a matter of days ago.
Anna says that the celebs taking part had a real mix of issues to dissect, with some having a bruised past relationship history, some with trust issues, and some unsure of what they want in life.
“Paul and I absolutely strip apart every celebrity that comes into our agency,” Anna continued.
“And credit to them, they’ve allowed us to break them down, and let us work hard to get to the root of the problem and help them improve.
“They’ve been honest and authentic with us, and it’s a process, it takes time.”
The pair match the cast with members of the public based on various components: what the celebs are after; their values in what someone stands for and their background; their aesthetics; and personality traits.
“There is an absolute science to matchmaking,” Anna said.
“We like to push people out of their comfort zone with people they don’t think they’ll like but people we think they might.
“Sometimes we’re very much in the bad books with some of our celebrities but there is method in our madness, always, and sometimes we deliberately do that.
“We want to show them there are different people out there. And sometimes they are pleasantly surprised.”
For singletons watching the show thinking they’d like to get back on the dating scene, Anna's top tip is that it’s important to set your intention first.
While online dating still has its place in 2022, the expert recommends not oversaturating yourself across too many platforms.
“Get your mindset in the right place,” she said.
“If you’re a bit half-arsed about dating, then it’s not the right time for you to get back into it. Dating can be very arduous and time-consuming, and even soul-destroying if you’re not in the right headspace.
“So you reap what you sow, and chances are you’ll attract that back.
“Be really specific about what you’re looking for, that way you can sort the wheat from the chaff a bit more, and it’s best to be upfront about what you do and don’t want.
“If you’re looking for something committed, say it, that way you can knock away people after a quick fling; be intentional.”
Alongside her TV commitments, the married mum-of-two wrote a new book during the pandemic last year - a time she felt relationships and dating had been hit more than any other period in recent years and when people were more confident in being open about their struggles.
'Where is the Love?' is an honest guide to the challenges that go on behind closed doors of relationships and dating, with practical advice on the issues commonly faced, Anna says.
There is even a whole chapter on how to argue.
“Research for the book proved we’re all experiencing the same gripes and groans and challenges,” she said.
“There is a lot of comfort in knowing you’re not alone.
“The book shines a massive light on the issues we all face with practical advice and tips to perhaps improve your relationship rather than throw the towel in far too early.”
The top three relationship gripes she found were first, mess and chores, secondly, feeling underappreciated, and thirdly, not feeling listened to.
She says that statistically, this time of year sees a spike in relationship breakdown and general feelings of fatigue, which can result in thousands feeling fed up about the seemingly small things.
Her advice is to prioritise your partner, by spending quality time together, without your phones.
“Everybody feels the January blues post Christmas so it’s important to prioritise your relationship, like you would a doctor’s appointment or a work meeting,” Anna said, who on Saturday night made time for a date night with her husband, with a cinema trip and Nando’s, while a family member babysat their children.
“Just reconnect, it’s important to just do something, whether it’s a drive together, a walk, to have a chat.”
“My biggest advice is to ditch the phones,” Anna added.
“We’re all guilty of answering an email or scrolling on Instagram, you may as well be sitting with a flatmate, so it’s really important to leave those phones in a different room sometimes and make that agreement with yourselves, and actually engage.
“Have a cuddle and remove distractions. My main advice is to give each other that focus.”
Celebs Go Dating, with receptionist Tom Wilson and voiceover from Rob Beckett, premieres Monday, January 17 at 9pm on E4.
Celebs Go Dating airs every Monday to Thursday at 9pm on E4.
Where is the Love: The Honest Guide to Dating and Relationships by Anna Williamson (£12.99, Bloomsbury). Published 17th February 2022.
