The minds behind beloved reality show Love On the Spectrum are currently casting for a brand new documentary series centred on the realities of dating.
ICYMI: Love On the Spectrum documents the lives of people on the autism spectrum as they explore love, dating and relationships. It’s wholesome, heartwarming and so unlike the dramatised nonsense we’re used to nowadays.
Now, the creators are keen to recruit a gaggle of single folk who have never been on a date before, but are ready to venture into the dating scene for their upcoming series.
It’ll also focus on the experiences of people who are typically underrepresented on shows like The Bachelor, Married at First Sight and Love Island.
“This could mean people who identify as LGBTIQ+, it could mean people from different cultural backgrounds,” the casting callout reads. “It could mean people living with a disability or with a condition, it could mean people whose appearance is different to what we tend to see on dating shows filmed on islands.”
The casting ad also said that they “aim to make an honest and insightful” series that tells “the stories of people we don’t see enough of on our screens”.
Can we get a “HELL YEAH”? About time we got (another) show that doesn’t centre on hospo haters or the real-life equivalents of Disney villains…
Former Reality Stars Speak About Underrepresented Contestants On Reality TV
While this new series moves to showcase underrepresented individuals, former reality TV stars have called for racial representation on mainstream shows, too.
The Bachelor franchise fave Niranga Amarasinghe previously spoke to the So Dramatic! podcast’s Megan Pustetto about how dating shows can diversify their casts.
To start with, he thinks the producers need to change how they entice POC to the show by being more forward with casting.
“I think they need to advertise it more, to make a more diverse cast,” he said during episode 38 of the podcast. “I don’t think they’re going out to look for them.
“They are just finding good-looking people on Instagram.”
He also thinks casting more POC will give “confidence” to those watching at home who may be nervous to apply due to “cultural differences”.
“I think there’s a lot of cultural differences, getting half-naked on TV or making out on TV isn’t right for some people’s culture,” he admitted. “There’s a lot less people applying that are diverse. They need to give those kind of people more confidence.”
Well, fingers crossed this new dating show does just that!
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 38 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
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