New reality dating show uses AI to catch every lie – but can the singles handle the truth?

The Irish Sun

13-05-2025

A JAW-DROPPING 90 per cent of people admit to fibbing on their dating app profiles, according to a stat cited in the first episode of Channel 4's latest reality show.
A wild new experiment, The Honesty Box, is here to shake things up – and it's about to get seriously juicy.
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Co-hosts Vicky and Lucinda get ready to open the Match Box
Fronted by TV royalty Vicky Pattison, 37, and no-nonsense relationship guru Lucinda Light, 44, this brutally honest dating show is setting out to do what no app can: make people tell the truth.
Set in a stunning villa in Cyprus known as Truetopia, singletons (aka Truetopians) are tested like never before.
There's one simple rule: tell the truth about everything when you're summoned to the AI Honesty Box.
The device is called EyeDetect and can identify tiny changes in a person's eye movements to gauge whether or not they are likely lying. No filters, no fibs.
As a reward for telling the truth, they get cold, hard cash to boost their prize pot. So how much is honesty really worth?
And when every little white lie costs them something, can the contestants remain true to themselves and the group?
From awkward confessions to cringeworthy secrets, the Truetopians will have to face some seriously tough questions about what they've admitted to, cashing in their reality in exchange for getting one step closer to their true love in the villa.
Luckily, they'll have the dynamic duo of Vicky and Lucinda by their sides.
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With years of experience in the chaotic world of reality TV, these iconic hosts are on hand to guide, challenge and support the contestants along this emotional rollercoaster.
We caught up with them to play a hilarious game of 'Romantic vs Cynic'.
To be a romantic is to always see the light and love in the situation, whereas sometimes our inner cynic creeps in to give us a reality check.
Let's just say, Vicky's and Lucinda's no-nonsense advice on navigating the dating world might just change the way you approach relationships for ever.
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DILEMMA ONE
'You love physical touch in public but your partner hates public displays of affection. Is this a dealbreaker or can you learn to live with the affection you get at home?'
ANSWER: ROMANTIC
Lucinda: 'Aw, I'm a romantic in this situation, for sure.'
Vicky: 'That's actually mine and my partner's situation.
'Ercan [my husband] is not big on the old PDA, but I absolutely love it. He's definitely relaxed a bit, though.'
Lucinda: 'But is he affectionate at home?'
Vicky: 'Aw, yeah, he's like an octopus – can't keep his hands off me!'
Lucinda: 'I used to maybe be a bit more into PDA, but I think in the future I'm probably going to be a bit more subtle out there in public.'
DILEMMA TWO
'Your partner lies about previously having had more than one 'situationship' on the go at the same time. Does this affect your trust in them? Or do you accept that everyone has a past and feel self-assured that they only have eyes for you?'
ANSWER: CYNIC
Lucinda: 'You're a bit of a cynic about that.'
Vicky: 'Lying is a red flag, full stop. I think once you start to tell lies like that, you get into a really grey area really fast and lose trust.
'I think: 'Well, if you're lying about that, what else are you lying about?' Don't ever lie to me. There's just no point. Tell us the truth.'
Lucinda: 'Honesty is the best policy. Always.'
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DILEMMA THREE
'Your partner forgets your anniversary but apologises sincerely. Do you forgive them and move on as you know they show you love all year round, or do you think it's a sign that they don't care enough?'
ANSWER: LUCINDA – ROMANTIC vs VICKY – CYNIC
Lucinda: 'I'm a romantic. It's just one day. If they're showing romance the whole year round, who cares? I'm not bothered.'
Vicky: 'I'm approaching this from a slightly different standpoint. I just think the little things are important. Like remembering when you first kissed.
'I went mad when Ercan forgot Mother's Day. We don't actually have children – we have dogs. I just think it's important to celebrate the people you love.
'Anniversaries, Mother's Days, birthdays, whatever it is. Come on man, it's not that hard!'
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You heard it here first! PDA isn't the be-all and end-all, honesty is always the best policy – and yes, Mother's Day includes dog mums too.
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Want to know how Vicky and Lucinda tackled more dating dilemmas? Watch Romantic vs Cynic
And to see if the contestants in Truetopia face the same tough truths, stream The Honesty Box now on Channel 4