I Kissed a Boy, BBC's newest reality dating show, is changing the game.
Though we're never one to shy away from marathoning the best Love Island UK seasons or getting lost in the pods with Love Is Blind couples, it's high time for reality romance series to include more diversity.
Meet the U.K.'s first-ever gay dating show, I Kissed A Boy. The BBC series will follow in the footsteps of Love Island in terms of plot, but it'll feature an entirely LGBTQ+ cast.
"I believe love is for everyone. So I am so thrilled for a gay dating show to be entering the sea of other dating shows that have existed on TV for years," host Dannii Minogue told our sister site, What to Watch.
Are you ready for the adventure to begin?
How to watch 'I Kissed a Boy,' BBC's new series:
Need to know how to tune in? You're in luck—the fun has just started. We'll tell you how to keep up with the singles, even if you're stationed far away from a Puglia farmhouse.
How to watch 'I Kissed a Boy' in the UK
The first two episodes of series made an early debut in the UK on BBC iPlayer on Saturday, May 13, before airing on BBC 3 on Sunday, May 14. New episodes will air weekly every Sunday on BBC3 from May 14 on so, like Love Island, it's a commitment.
How to watch 'I Kissed a Boy' in the US
No BBC? No problem! Those across the pond who want to take a look at the British network's revolutionary new dating series can do so with the help of a VPN.
A VPN allows you to change your IP address so you can browse anonymously so that your device thinks it's in another location. We recommend Express VPN, the top-rated service by our colleagues at TechRadar.
Why is 'I Kissed a Boy' important for reality TV?
Though we've received LGBTQ+ storylines on some dating series, like MTV's Are You the One? and Netflix's Perfect Match, I Kissed a Boy is solely focused on gay romances, just like upcoming The Ultimatum: Queer Love, which will premiere on Netflix on Wednesday, May 24.
If you ask Francesca Farago, a Perfect Match cast member who changed the show's trajectory by pursuing Abbey Humphreys, featuring diverse couples on reality dating series is necessary.
"I feel like representation is so important because it’ll show audiences that we’re normal people. Just because we identify in a certain way doesn’t mean that we deserve this huge amount of hate," she told Variety.
After the show aired, Farago came under scrutiny for her relationship with Jesse Sullivan, a trans man who rose to fame on TikTok for his alliance with the LGBTQ+ community.
"To have these aspects of public hate from that just proves that the more representation we have, the more positive it will be because people will see that we’re just normal people," she added.
Watch the 'I Kissed a Boy' trailer:
It started with a kiss...how did it end up like this?! Take a look at what's to come in the debut season of I Kissed a Boy, courtesy of this official teaser trailer.
How does 'I Kiss a Boy' work?
With the help of IKAB Matching team, 10 singles are paired together and must start things off with a smooch—no chit-chat, no handshakes, no flirting, just kissing. From there, we'll see how the couples proceed—or not—while in the "Masseria," a.k.a. an Italian farmhouse.
"Ten gay guys on a holiday of a lifetime, in their search for that perfect date. It is sexy and romantic and these connections could lead them to their perfect partner," Minogue further revealed to What to Watch.
Where was 'I Kissed a Boy' filmed?
We're headed to the country that's all about amore: Italy! Catch the gorgeous—and steamy scenes—unfold at the Masseria in Puglia. Ciao, bello!
Curious to see how things will unfold? We'll catch you at the Masseria on Sundays!
