MARRIED At First Sight UK will break entirely new ground as its next series will include one of the world’s first ever transgender dating show participants.
The new series will see a pansexual man tie the knot with a trans woman.
The E4 series, which is one of the UK’s most-watched entertainment shows alongside Love Island and I’m A Celebrity, was the first ever mainstream dating show to cast gay and lesbian contributors.
A TV source said: “Married At First Sight is one of Channel 4’s biggest shows but that hasn’t stopped them shying away from making bold steps in casting and format.
“This year’s cast includes a trans contributor who is paired with a pansexual man.
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“Of course it has all the ingredients to be a real TV moment but bosses are also aware that they have to get this right - huge societal weight hangs on how this is presented and how it lands with viewers, never mind the fact there are real people involved who are more than just their gender.”
Channel 4 has a legacy for progressive casting.
Nineteen years ago, it cast Big Brother’s first ever trans contestant Nadia Almada.
She kept her past a secret from her housemates, opening up in her own time, and went on to win.
It comes as BBC Three last week launched its own gay dating show, I Kissed A Boy, hosted by Dannii Minogue.
A MAFS insider said: “The duty of care across Channel 4 and on MAFS is already robust so the same processes were in place.
“As part of casting all contributors provide their dating preferences, which includes information on past relationships and experiences, and is then put through an in-depth profiling and research study in order to match couples for compatibility.”
Married At First Sight has run for seven series in the UK since 2015, whilst the hugely popular Australian version has extended to ten.
It follows a group of couples who meet for the first time on their wedding days, through the early days of married life, before they are then asked whether they wish to remain married or split.
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The show has spawned a number of successful marriages, including last year’s lesbian pairing Zoe Clifton and Jenna Robinson.
A Channel 4 Spokesperson said: “The cast for Married at First Sight UK will be revealed later in the year.”
