My Mum, Your Dad

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

My Mum, Your Dad
Lifted Entertainment
Original release
NetworkITV1
Release11 September 2023 (2023-09-11) –
present

My Mum, Your Dad is a British dating reality show that began airing on ITV1 on 11 September 2023, presented by Davina McCall. The series follows a group of middle-aged single parents as they head to a romance retreat for a second chance at love which, unbeknownst to them, is overseen by their adult children.

Production

In January 2023, it was reported that ITV were set to commission a new dating series that was teased as a version of "Love Island for "mid-life single parents".[1][2] The series was given the working title The Romance Retreat and Davina McCall was announced to be presenting the series in March 2023.[3][4] Following the announcement of her appointment as presenter, McCall said she had "manifested" the show into existence and had "begged [television] bosses" to give her the role of presenter, adding that she made it happen and "willed there to be an amazing new dating programme for grown-ups." She described the cast as "people who have lived a life, been through experiences [...] They've got luggage but they deserve love."[5][6]

In June 2023, the series was confirmed to be titled My Mum, Your Dad.

tenth series of Love Island.[11][12] Further in-depth trailers were aired throughout the month on ITV channels, before the series began on 11 September 2023.[13][14]
Series 2 was confirmed on 16 October 2023, to be released in 2024.

Format

The series follows a group of single parents who have been put forward by their adult children, to be given a chance to find love again. They will reside in a country house retreat in Midhurst, West Sussex and will be watched by their children on screens who will act as matchmakers and decide who goes on a date with who.[7][15][16]

Contestants

The line-up of parents and their children appearing in the series were announced on 4 September 2023, a week before the show's launch.[17][18]

Parent Age Hometown Entered Exited Child Age
Elliott Davidson 53 Essex Day 1 Day 10 Zachary Davidson 21
Janey Smith 47 West Sussex Day 2 Day 10 William Lancaster 19
Martin Makepeace 53 Derby Day 4 Day 10 Luke Makepeace 18
Monique Payneeandy 50 Winchmore Hill Day 1 Day 10 Taiya Payneeandy 21
Natalie Russell 43 Bournemouth Day 1 Day 10 Kaliel Russell 20
Paul Edwards 47 Bath Day 1 Day 10 Mazey Edwards 21
Roger Hawes 58 Derbyshire Day 1 Day 10 Jess Hawes-Brown 28
Sharon Benson 53 Sunderland Day 1 Day 10 Tia Zanetti 24
Martin Henlan 56 Epsom Day 3 Day 9 Jessica Henlan 23
Tolullah Aiyela 50 London Day 4 Day 9 Georgia-Blu Begg 28
Caroline McGirr 51 South Lanarkshire Day 1 Day 7 Karli MacCallum 20
Clayton Byfield 57 Nottingham Day 1 Day 7 Christian Byfield 35

Weekly summary

The main events in the My Mum, Your Dad retreat are summarised in the table below.

Week 1 Entrances
  • On Day 1, Caroline, Elliott, Clayton, Monique, Natalie, Paul, Roger and Sharon entered the retreat, whilst their children Christian, Jess, Kaliel, Karli, Mazey, Taiya, Tia and Zachary entered the bunker.[19]
  • On Day 2, Janey entered the retreat, whilst her son William entered the bunker.[20]
  • On Day 3, Martin H entered the retreat, whilst his daughter Jessica entered the bunker.[21]
  • On Day 4, Martin M and Tolullah entered the retreat, whilst their children Luke and Georgia-Blu entered the bunker.[22][23]
Challenges
  • On Day 3, the parents took part in a self-acceptance workshop.[24]
  • On Day 3, the parents took part in a "confession session" game.[25]
Dates
  • On Day 1, the women were told they would be able to choose one of the men to take on a date. Monique chose Paul, Sharon selected Elliott, Natalie went with Clayton and Caroline went on a date with Roger.[26]
  • On Day 2, the children were told they would have to decide which two parents to send on a paddleboard yoga date. They chose Natalie and Paul.[27]
  • On Day 4, Sharon and Elliott went on a date to play tennis.[28]
  • On Day 4, the children were told they would be pairing up the parents to send on dates. They put Martin M and Monique together, Clayton and Janey as a pair and matched up Roger and Caroline.[29]
  • On Day 5, new arrivals Martin M and Tolullah went on speed dates with the other parents.[30]
Week 2 Challenges
  • On Day 6, the parents took part in an intimacy workshop.[31]
  • On Day 8, the children were told that the parents would be taking part in a workshop to reflect on their time in the retreat, and they would be able to communicate with them using only one word.[32]
Dates
  • On Day 7, the children were told they have to choose two parents to go on a dinner date, where the waitress would ask them questions posed by the children. They chose Martin H and Tolullah.[33]
  • On Day 9, the final couples went on dates. Natalie and Paul set sail on a yacht, Janey and Roger went on a helicopter ride and had a picnic, Sharon and Elliott went wine tasting, whilst Martin M and Monique went for afternoon tea on the orient express.[34]
Exits
  • On Day 7, the children were told they would have to collectively decide which two parents would leave the retreat. They chose Caroline and Clayton.[35]
  • On Day 9, Martin H and Tolullah decided to leave the retreat as they did not have any romantic connections with anyone.[36]
  • On Day 10, the children were told they would reunite with their parents and decide whether or not to give them their blessing. William and Jess gave parents Roger and Janey their blessing, as did Kaliel and Mazey to their parents Natalie and Paul. Tia and Zachary supported their parents Sharon and Elliott. Prior to Taiya and Luke's decision, Monique decided that she and Martin M were not compatible.[37]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Daily Telegraph[38]
The Independent[39]
The Guardian[40]
The Times[41]

Anita Singh of The Daily Telegraph described the show's contestants as "attractive" and "well-turned out" and noted that presenter Davina McCall [brought] "exactly the right level of warmth and enthusiasm".[38] Fiona Sturges of The Independent noted that the show's producers appeared to have "mistaken the middle-aged contestants for helpless geriatrics who can no longer be trusted to boil a kettle, let alone make decisions about who they’d like to date".[39]

The series was described by Lucy Mangan of The Guardian as "hilarious" and "excruciating". She added that "unlike the usual contestants [on Love Island] these people have real stories, real baggage and [...] real emotions.[40] Carol Midgley of The Times criticised the series, noting that she'd "sooner eat [her] own liver than have [her] children spying on [her] pitiful attempts at flirting or snogging", noting that there was too much focus on the children's opinions. She did however comment that the "saving grace" was the contestants and their "endearing vulnerability" which gave [the show] a heart that Love Island lacks.[41]

References

  1. ^ "The Romance Retreat: ITV to launch Love Island for mid-life single parents". The Guardian. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  2. ^ "You'd have to cut off my electricity to stop me tuning in to an 'older Love Island'". The Guardian. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  3. ^ "TV legend Davina McCall to front 'The Romance Retreat' (working title)". ITV. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Love Island's "grown up" spin-off for single parents announces host". Digital Spy. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Davina McCall confirmed as host of 'Love Island' spin-off for middle-aged single parents". Heart. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Davina McCall confirms she will host 'Love Island for oldies' The Romance Retreat". Evening Standard. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  7. ^ a b "My Mum, Your Dad: What to expect from Davina McCall's 'middle-aged Love Island'". BBC News. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Tf1 France and Vox Germany announce local versions of My Mum, Your Dad". ITV. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  9. ^ "New dating show My Mum, Your Dad hosted by Davina McCall". ITV. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  10. ^ "ITV dating show My Mum, Your Dad scheduled to air this Autumn". Radio Times. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  11. ^ "ITV shares first look at new 'older Love Island' My Mum, Your Dad". The Independent. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Davina McCall's Love Island spinoff unveils first-look trailer". Digital Spy. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  13. ^ "New Dating Show 'My Mum, Your Dad' Start Date, Trailer And More Info". Capital. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  14. ^ "My Mum Your Dad: Davina McCall's dating show start date and contestants revealed". Heart. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  15. ^ "My Mum, Your Dad: ITV dating show opens up conversations about grief". BBC News. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  16. ^ "All hail My Mum, Your Dad: great TV – and Britain's overdue love letter to older, single parents". The Guardian. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  17. ^ "My Mum Your Dad line-up revealed: Meet the single parents looking for love". Heart. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  18. ^ "My Mum, Your Dad: Cast revealed ahead of new ITV dating series - full list". Edinburgh Evening News. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Meet the cast of ITV's My Mum, Your Dad". Radio Times. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  20. ^ "All you need to know about My Mum, Your Dad star Janey". Hello!. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  21. ^ "My Mum Your Dad: How old is Martin H, what is his job and who is his daughter Jessica?". Heart. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Who is Martin M and his son Luke? Meet My Mum, Your Dad cast". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Who is Tolullah and her daughter Georgia-Blu? Meet My Mum, Your Dad contestant". Radio Times. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  24. ^ "My Mum, Your Dad star shares tragic story of losing wife". Digital Spy. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  25. ^ "My Mum Your Dad's Roger makes an emotional confession over late wife". Heart. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  26. ^ "No One Should Criticise Widower Roger on My Mum, Your Dad For Choosing To Date Again". Grazia. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  27. ^ "My Mum Your Dad teases first kiss between Natalie and Paul". Heart. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  28. ^ "My Mum, Your Dad slammed for 'unethical twist' as contestant breaks down". Daily Mirror. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  29. ^ "ITV My Mum, Your Dad: Caroline and Roger get second chance at romance on 'playful' date". Daily Record. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  30. WalesOnline
    . 14 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  31. ^ "Stars of My Mum, Your Dad reveal if there really is love in the air!". ITV. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  32. Wales Online
    . 20 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  33. Nottinghamshire Live
    . 20 September 2023.
  34. ^ "My Mum Your Dad announces finale change in schedule shake-up". Digital Spy. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  35. ^ "My Mum Your Dad will send two parents home tonight in shock elimination". Heart. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  36. ^ "My Mum Your Dad's Martin H supported by viewers after breaking down in tears". Heart. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  37. ^ "My Mum Your Dad: Are any of the couples still together?". Heart. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  38. ^ a b "My Mum, Your Dad, ITV1, review: middle-aged Love Island? Think again". The Daily Telegraph. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  39. ^ a b "My Mum, Your Dad review: Dating show appears to have mistaken the middle-aged contestants for helpless geriatrics". The Independent. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  40. ^ a b "My Mum, Your Dad review – Davina McCall's 'middle-aged Love Island' is hilarious ... and excruciating". The Guardian. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  41. ^ a b "My Mum, Your Dad review — contestants give 'middle-aged Love Island' heart". The Times. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

External links