The UK’s first-ever gay reality dating show, I Kissed a Boy, will feature a Northern Irish contestant, as Gareth, from Kilkeel, Co Down, joins the line-up of men looking for love at first kiss. 

A stylist currently living in East London, Gareth hopes that by joining the cast, he can inspire young queer people to be more accepting of themselves. “I just hope that some queer kid, who’s scared to be who they are, sees this and it makes them feel strong, glorious and powerful enough for them to accept and display their true authentic selves to the world,” he said.

He came out when he was 24, after moving to London and finally being able to dive into the thriving, and for him, life-changing LGBTQ+ scene. Growing up in a community that centred around religion and traditional roles, he often felt alone, so after moving, he took the chance and stopped pretending to be someone he wasn’t. Today, he says that most of his social life revolves around the local queer community.

When asked about his dating aspirations, Gareth admitted that he is sick of toxic mindsets and hopes to find someone like-minded who is free-spirited and has confidence as well as queer energy. 

I Kissed A Boy on @bbcthree is a game changer. It’s funny, it’s real, it’s wholesome, it’s EXACTLY what a dating show needs to be without all the bells and whistles. It destroyed my initial expansions. It’s an absolute must watch not just for the queer community but for everyone pic.twitter.com/SiAW0g8xI1

— ‎Christopher ? (@chrismegrath) May 10, 2023

Premiering on BBC iPlayer on May 13, and on BBC Three on May 14, I Kissed a Boy will not only be full of exciting cliffhangers, explosive drama and electric chemistry, but it will also talk about things that are often left unsaid. From the pressure of body image in the gay dating scene to coming out to a non-supportive environment, the contestants are given the chance to share their personal journeys.

With the goal of celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, the show has been made to spark joy and to add the cherry on top of the cake, it features an array of powerful queer anthems in the soundtrack.

The host, pop icon Dannii Minogue, is looking forward to playing Cupid, and everyone is invited to watch the exciting line-up get to know each other as they make history on the UK’s first-ever gay reality dating show.