Blind Date reboot 'set to return with HUGE twist - and it's inspired by hit ITV dating show'

Daily Mail​

10 hours ago

Blind Date is set to make a sensational return to screens 22 years after it last aired but with a jaw-dropping twist inspired by Love Island.
Earlier this month, MailOnline revealed the legendary dating show - famously hosted by the late Cilla Black from 1985 to 2003 - is being rebooted on Disney+.
However, the new version will reportedly take place on a tropical island, just like ITV 's Love Island, hosted by Maya Jama – with contestants battling it out for a dream wedding on golden sands.
A TV insider told The Sun: 'This sounds like a radical departure from the old Blind Date, one that definitely has hints of Love Island about it.
'But fans will recall a lot of the dates took place in hot, sunny climes abroad, and producers want to recapture some of the steamy fun, and expand upon that.
'Even the wedding element has hints of the old show because the dream was always that the dates on the programme would lead to couples tying the knot.'
The iconic British game show originally saw a contestant question three potential dates hidden behind a screen – which would then slide back to reveal their chosen match.
According to the insider, the reboot will retain some of the show's most beloved elements, including the famous sliding wall, and producers are said to be seeking a high-profile female host in the spirit of Cilla Black.
Disney+ is expected to officially announce the Blind Date revival soon, though details remain tightly under wraps.
MailOnline has contacted Disney+ for comment.
It comes after MailOnline revealed earlier this month that the legendary dating show is eyeing up several well-known presenters to host the revival.
In March, former This Morning host Holly Willoughby was tipped to become the next Cilla, with the presenter lining up a string of big-money deals worth up to £10million.
The revival was previously being considered by Holly's husband Dan Baldwin, and the star had previously stepped into Cilla's shoes when she hosted a reboot of Surprise Surprise.
An insider told The Sun at the time: 'There might not sound like obvious parallels between Holly and Cilla, but they're both two of the biggest stars of modern telly.
'Emulating Cilla isn't just about taking on her shows, it's as much about carving out a niche as a solo presenter with serious clout in the world of telly.
'But together with her husband Dan, they form the ultimate power couple in TV. She has the public appeal that gets viewers tuning in, while he has a track record of making hugely successful TV shows.'
When asked about other shows he'd love to reboot, Dan suggested Blind Date, saying: 'Another one you'd like to see back, Blind Date, are we ready for that? What a Saturday night that was. I'm thinking Blind Date with Claudia Winkleman on BBC1.'
Cilla was also married to a big figure in the TV industry, with her husband Robert 'Bobby' Willis, taking over as her manager after Brian Epstein's death in 1967, and negotiating her deal with LWT, which made her one of TV's highest-paid stars.
During Blind Date's final year, Cilla was said to be earning £17,000 a week, or £884,000 a year, which is the equivalent of £2million in today's money.
Holly had also praised Cilla for being a huge trailblazer for TV presenters in the 1980s and 1990s. The legendary star died in 2015 aged 72.
And it appears Holly now has the time for another hosting stint after her Netflix series Celebrity Bear Hunt was axed after one season.
The show is also reportedly hoping to get Davina (pictured) in the mix
The programme, which was set in Costa Rica and was hosted by Holly alongside Bear Grylls, will not return despite the star saying that he was hopeful it would.
Sources close to the show which aired in February told the Mail that while the ratings did well it was expensive to make and Netflix is now planning to do more live events rather than pre-recorded shows.
One told MailOnline: 'Everyone was very proud of the show but when it came to it, it was just so expensive to make. You had to have a whole set in Costa Rica, loads of staff and loads of celebrities. The overheads were eyewatering.'
It is understood that cheaper locations were looked at but nothing appeared to be suitable.