UKTV’s entertainment channel W has commissioned a new UKTV original dating show “with a twist.”
Produced by Harbar 8 and BBC Studios, each episode of Dating With My Mates (10X60’) follows a group of four friends as they navigate the sometimes daunting world of dating “at a dinner party like no other.”
In the show, four single best friends go out for a three-course dinner. With each course the group of friends will also be served up a different potential date. However, once the plates have been cleared, the dates must leave, and deliberation begins. At the end of the night, their lucky dates can return, to ask out only one of the mates. But will there be a match, or will their choices cause drama amongst the four friends?
Dating With My Mates is commissioned by Helen Nightingale, senior commissioning editor, and ordered by Adam Collings, channel director for W. Richard Watsham is UKTV’s director of commissioning, Deputy Director of commissioning Hilary Rosen and Steve North is genre general manager, comedy and entertainment. Executive producer for Harbar 8 is Daniel Clark-Neal and Pete Ogden for BBC Studios and the series is produced by Michelle Kirschner-Grant and directed by Marko Gowan.
Helen Nightingale said, “This unique new series for W gives viewers a softer more thoughtful look into the world of modern dating. Our daters are looking for real connection and we think this show gives them the opportunity to find just that.”
Adam Collings said, “We’re so excited to launch this clever new dating format on W. The most daunting part of dating can often be when your love interest meets your best friends, let alone hoping to meet Mr or Ms Right. This brilliant new approach allows our singletons to do both, at the same time. (We hope viewers will love Dating With My Mates as much as we loved the pilot.)”
Pete Ogden said, “This is our first commission for W, collaborating with them on a dating show is new territory and has been a lot of fun. We look forward to viewers seeing the hard work that has gone into this brilliant series.”
Daniel Clark-Neal said, “I’m excited to be working with W again. This is a dating show with friendship at its heart. Dates may come and go, whilst friends are there for the long haul. But that doesn’t stop us looking for love again…and again. In this show, we date with our friends by our side and I can’t wait to help play Cupid.
Jon Creamer
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