Former Contestants Say The BBC’s Axing Of “I Kissed A Boy” Is Two Steps Back
I Kissed A Boy made history when it premiered on BBC Three in May 2023 as the UK’s first gay dating show. The format was refreshingly direct: 10 single men meeting for the first time with a kiss, no small talk, no swiping. It found its audience quickly. A year later, production company Twofour launched I Kissed A Girl, a sapphic spinoff that proved the appetite was just as strong. Both shows returned for a second series, with I Kissed A Boy in 2025 notably featuring Lars Fellows as the franchise’s first trans contestant.
Why the BBC pulled the plug
The BBC confirmed this week that neither show will continue beyond the upcoming second series of I Kissed A Girl, set to air on BBC Three and iPlayer this spring. That brings the total to four series across both shows. The reason given: “funding challenges.” In a statement, the broadcaster said it was “exceptionally proud” of the franchise but had been forced to make “difficult choices.”
Dannii Minogue hosted all four series. She said the experience had been the most meaningful of her nearly 40 years in television, describing the “integrity and intention” behind the shows as what made it so significant. Strictly Come Dancing star Layton Williams narrated I Kissed A Boy; comedian and presenter Charley Marlowe voiced I Kissed A Girl.
What former contestants are saying
Those who were on the shows are not being quiet about it. Jordan Burrow, who appeared in the second series of I Kissed A Boy, told BBC Newsbeat: “I’m not even shocked at this point.” Priya Sohanpal, from the first series of I Kissed A Girl, called the decision “frustrating” and said LGBTQIA+ dating shows deserve the same weight as their straight counterparts.
The cancellation is part of a broader trend. According to GLAAD, four in ten queer characters on screen between 2024 and 2025 will not return in 2026. Netflix’s The Ultimatum: Queer Love was cancelled after two seasons. Actors including Olivia Colman, Alan Cumming, and Bowen Yang have publicly said that commissioners are increasingly “too nervous” to back LGBTQIA+ stories amid pressure on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) commitments across the industry.
What happens now
The final series of I Kissed A Girl will air as planned. Fans have already started calling on ITV to pick up the format. Whether that goes anywhere is another matter.
