BBC pulls plug on LGBTQ+ dating shows 'I Kissed A Boy' and 'I Kissed A Girl' amid funding squeeze

The BBC has confirmed that its groundbreaking LGBTQ+ dating shows I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl will not be returning after the upcoming second series of I Kissed A Girl, citing ongoing “funding challenges” as the reason behind the cancellation.

The two series, both hosted by pop icon Dannii Minogue, represented the broadcaster’s first foray into queer dating television. I Kissed A Boy debuted in 2023 as the UK’s first gay male dating show, followed by I Kissed A Girl in 2024, which focused on lesbian and bisexual women. Each programme placed ten singletons in a sun‑drenched Italian villa, where they met their initial matches with a kiss before even exchanging names. 

A BBC spokesperson said the broadcaster was “exceptionally proud” of the shows but acknowledged that financial pressures had forced difficult decisions. “Unfortunately, we have to make difficult choices in light of our funding challenges and there are no current plans for the show to return,” they said. 

Dannii Minogue, who served as the shows’ “cupid”, expressed her gratitude to the BBC and the production team. She praised the series for its positive impact, saying she was “so proud the show has given us the chance to celebrate so many people from the LGBTQ+ community.” She promised that the forthcoming new series of I Kissed A Girl would bring “all the excitement and joy that this show represents.”

She also hinted that the franchise may not be gone forever, telling fans: “Who knows where the IK series will go from there?”