A brand new dating show is landing on BBC Three on Wednesday, March 23. Called Love in the Flesh the series will see five couples who have been dating online meet for the first time to spend a week together in a Greek beach house.
Having started their relationships online some couples have been chatting for weeks while others have been speaking for years without seeing each other in person. Love in the Flesh will give them the chance to see if their relationship will work without the screens, if not they will have the chance to get to know someone else in the villa.
The new series is presented by former Love Island contestant and Made in Chelsea star Zara McDermott, who will act as a confidante and guide as the series unpicks wider themes relating to dating and the benefits or pitfalls when it comes to trying to make connections online or in person.
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“Love In The Flesh is a dating show that is based around five couples who have only ever spoken online – they have connected either on dating apps or social media and the series brings them together for the very first time,” Zara explained.
“Some of the couples have been speaking for years, and some of them just for a few months. The idea is that we bring them together in a peaceful beach house in Greece to meet for the first time – in the flesh. We watch them lock eyes and have their first in-person conversation which is a really magical moment!”
Zara continued: “And then we put them into this beach house for a week and see if these relationships can survive with no distractions of phones or dating apps. It’s a really fun show, but with a powerful meaning behind it as we explore what the landscape of dating looks like in today’s society for young people.”
When does Love in the Flesh start?
The series starts on Wednesday, March 23 at 10pm on BBC Three. Love in the Flesh is made up of eight episodes with two installments airing every week. This week the second episode will air on Thursday, March 24.
Who are the Love in the Flesh contestants?
Christos and Niki – first connected online three months ago
Millie and Shelby – have been talking online for 10 months
Hannah and Brandon – connected on a dating app six months ago
Chibz and Shazelle – connected via Instagram two years ago
Jess and Kwame – have been chatting online for five years
Who is Zara McDermott?
Presenter of the show Zara McDermott rose to fame on Love Island in 2018. Since leaving the villa Zara has appeared on The X Factor: Celebrity and Made in Chelsea, alongside boyfriend Sam Thompson.
More recently Zara, 25, has been carving out a presenting career for herself, fronting BBC documentaries Uncovering Rape Culture and Revenge Porn. Prior to the spotlight, Zara was a government policy advisor.
Love in the Flesh starts on Wednesday, March 23 at 10pm on BBC Three. For more showbiz and television stories, get our newsletter here.