Latest news with #KieranHolmes-Darby
Graziadaily
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
Everything To Know About Love Is Blind UK's Kieran Holmes-Darby
Love Is Blind UK is welcoming a fresh batch of singletons into the Pods for season two. Husband-and-wife presenting pair Emma and Matt Willis return for more romance, tears and drama on Netflix's unique dating experiment, which sees proposals before both parties have even laid eyes on their future partner. This year's contestants include flight attendant Ashleigh Berry, dancer Megan Jupp and Army instructor Billy Jervis Jr. Joining them is Kieran Holmes-Darby, a brainy entrepreneur with a very impressive CV… 'Secret geek' – or not-so-secret – Kieran is a gaming entrepreneur and has made a living out of his love of video games. A Mensa member, he was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list when he was 25 for putting UK esports on the map. He co-founded esports company Excel in 2014, when he was 19 with his brother Joel, after they spent hours gaming with each other remotely from their university dorm rooms at opposite ends of the country. 'Gaming has always been a big part of our lives and we're quite competitive people by nature,' he said. After Excel merged with Giants Gaming in 2023, to create the GIANTX brand, Kieran left the organisation and became manager of the League of Legends esports team Los Ratones. Kieran is also business director of creative agency Ear To The Ground. You can find Kieran at @kieranhdarby Kieran Holmes-Darby finds a love match on Love Is Blind ©Netflix Kieran has been single for 18 months, after a seven-year relationship ended when he realised his heart was no longer in it. Described by his friends and family as a 'golden boy', he wants to find his perfect partner. 'When the dating apps ain't working, going on a televised experiment seems like a reasonable response,' he says. He's looking for someone he can relax with and show his nerdy side too. Shereen Low is a senior news and entertainment writer for Grazia UK, who enjoys watching everything from Love Island and Race Across The World to real-life crime shows and thrillers.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Love Is Blind Kieran Holmes-Darby's journey from gaming millionaire to reality TV star
Netflix's reality dating show Love Is Blind UK has returned for a second series on the streaming giant, with a cast of singles including self-confessed 'geek' Kieran Holmes-Darby hoping to find love in the pods. The popular dating show Love Is Blind UK is back for its second season, with a fresh batch of 30 hopeful singles looking to find love, sight unseen. The first string of episodes was released on Netflix on Wednesday, August 13, and is now available to watch. Hosts Matt and Emma Willis returned at the helm of the series, which sees singletons popping the question before they have even clapped eyes on their future partner. In a trusting concept, they rely entirely on a soul connection. They communicate in separate pods, aiming to form a deeper connection, before finally coming face-to-face with who they hope will be their life partner. This year's cast boasts a Scots nanny and make-up artist, 31-year-old Katisha Atkinson from Dumfries. However, one participant with a particularly interesting backstory is Forbes Under 30 honouree Kieran Holmes-Darby. Let's take a closer look at his million pound gaming business and journey to the reality sphere. Which gaming company did Kieran establish? At the tender age of 19, Kieran and his brother Joel Holmes-Darby launched UK esports firm Excel, now estimated to be worth millions according to the Mirror, back in 2014. The entrepreneur, now 28, has previously shared how they would spend hours gaming together remotely from their university at opposite ends of the country before deciding to create their own esports squad. Excel gained recognition for its formidable teams across popular games such as League of Legends and Fortnite, with its players competing globally. The team even featured in the BBC gaming documentary, Fight for First: Excel Esports, which aired in January 2021. Kieran told South West Londoner at the time: "It's so very exciting; it's a nice bit of recognition and I'm really happy. "I have lots of people - from school, distant relatives, people from university - messaging me to say congratulations and it's really great. "Gaming has always been a big part of our lives and we're quite competitive people by nature. It's been quite the journey from the dorm room to where we are now, but a really exciting one." Is Kieran Holmes-Darby a member of Mensa? According to Netflix's Tudum, 'secret geek' Kieran is a member of Mensa and is no stranger to achievement. At just 25, Kieran also secured a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for establishing UK esports on the global stage. To gain membership of Mensa, candidates must show an IQ within the top two per cent, either by completing their monitored examination or providing previous evidence. What does Kieran Holmes-Darby do now? In 2023, Excel combined with Spanish organisation Giants Gaming, establishing the GIANTX brand, which remains a major force in Esports. Kieran departed the organisation after the merger and has since taken on the role of Manager for the League of Legends squad Los Ratones, owned by former Excel player Marc Robert 'Caedrel' Lamont. The businessman also joined sports and gaming-focused creative agency Ear to the Ground as their Business Director. Kieran Holmes-Darby's Love Is Blind journey According to Netflix's Tudum, Kieran had been single for 18 months when they began filming Love Is Blind UK series two. Described by his pals and relatives as "the golden boy", Kieran was previously in a seven-year relationship, but is now prepared to discover romance in the pods with his potential bride. He has made it to the final five couples, alongside dance teacher Megan Jupp. Will Kieran discover what he's searching for? Viewers will have to wait for upcoming episodes to see if things pan out for the couple, which will land later this month on August 20.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Love Is Blind UK's Kieran is Mensa member who founded company worth millions at 19
Love Is Blind UK is welcoming back a fresh batch of singles for season 2, and one contestant with a particularly impressive resume is Kieran Holmes-Darby. Popular dating show Love Is Blind UK has returned for season 2, with a new group of contestants hoping to find love on the Netflix hit with a unique premise. Celebrity couple Matt and Emma Willis have returned to host the series, which sees singles propose to one another before they have ever laid eyes on their future partner. Instead, they speak in separate pods in the hope of connecting on a deeper level, before finally meeting their fiancés in person. This year's line-up includes a professional musician, a cafe owner and even a member of the armed forces. One cast member with a particularly interesting backstory, however, is Forbes Under 30 honorary Kieran Holmes-Darby. Which gaming company did Kieran Holmes-Darby found? At the age of 19, Kieran and his brother Joel Holmes-Darby co-founded UK esports company Excel back in 2014. The entrepreneur, now 28, has previously discussed how they would spend hours gaming with each other remotely from their university dorm rooms at opposite ends of the country before deciding to set up their own esports team. Excel became known for its strong teams across popular games like League of Legends and Fortnite, with its players competing internationally. The team even starred in the BBC gaming documentary, Fight for First: Excel Esports, which aired in January 2021. Kieran told South West Londoner at the time: 'It's so very exciting; it's a nice bit of recognition and I'm really happy. 'I have lots of people — from school, distant relatives, people from university — messaging me to say congratulations and it's really great. 'Gaming has always been a big part of our lives and we're quite competitive people by nature. It's been quite the journey from the dorm room to where we are now, but a really exciting one.' Is Kieran Holmes-Darby a member of Mensa? According to Netflix's Tudum, 'secret geek' Kieran is a member of Mensa and is no stranger to success. At the age of just 25, Kieran was also made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for putting UK esports on the map. To qualify for membership of Mensa, you must demonstrate an IQ in the top two percent, either through taking our supervised test or submitting prior evidence. What does Kieran Holmes-Darby do now? In 2023, Excel merged with Spanish organisation Giants Gaming, creating the GIANTX brand, which continues to be a large presence in Esports. Kieran left the organisation following the merger and has since become Manager of the League of Legends team Los Ratones, which is owned by former Excel player Marc Robert 'Caedrel' Lamont. The entrepreneur also joined sports and gaming-focused creative agency Ear to the Ground as their Business Director. What is Kieran Holmes-Darby's plan for Love Is Blind? According to Netflix's Tudum, Kieran had been single for 18 months when they started filming Love Is Blind UK season 2. Described by his friends and family as 'the golden boy', Kieran was previously in a relationship for seven years, but is now ready to find lasting love in the pods with his future wife. Will Kieran find what he's looking for? We'll just have to wait and see. Love Is Blind UK season 2, episodes 1-4 are now available to stream on Netflix.
