Maura Higgins is swapping reality TV contestant for matchmaker, as Disney+ announces she will host the return of ‘Blind Date’ when the iconic British dating show returns to screens in 2027.
The Irish television personality will front the new 10-part version of the classic dating format, with filming set to begin later this year at a suitably mysterious secret location.
Higgins shot to fame as a finalist on ‘Love Island UK’, before crossing the Atlantic to host ‘Love Island USA: Aftersun’. More recently, she appeared on ‘The Traitors U.S.’, finishing as runner-up following a rather memorable betrayal in the final, and is due to compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ this autumn.
Now she gets to be on the other side of the dating process, helping a new collection of hopeful singles find love on ‘Blind Date’.
The basic premise remains wonderfully simple. One contestant is faced with three potential suitors hidden behind the legendary ‘Blind Date’ wall, and has to decide who they would most like to date based entirely on their answers to a series of questions. Only after making their choice do they finally get to see who they have picked.
Disney+ says the new version will introduce a number of format twists alongside a “spicy dose of drama”, while potential partners may not always be quite as far away as contestants think. The series will begin filming later this year at a secret ‘Blind Date’ location, with more details about the updated format still to come.
Angela Jain, Head of Content, Disney+ EMEA, commented:
“Maura is the perfect match for our version of ‘Blind Date’. Her distinctive straight-talking humour, coupled with her experience as a reality dating show contestant, means we know she has the gravitas plus the wit to bring ‘Blind Date’ to new audiences. We’re very much looking forward to Maura helping our daters navigate their own journeys to find love as she steps into the famed ‘Blind Date’ host role.”
The series is based on the ‘The Dating Game’ format from Sony Pictures Television and will consist of 10 episodes of 45 minutes. It is produced by Stellify Media and SO TV, with Matthew Worthy and Kieran Doherty executive producing for Stellify, alongside Graham Stuart for SO TV.
Bringing back a TV format as recognisable as ‘Blind Date’ is always going to come with some pressure, but Higgins certainly has the dating-show experience, quick wit and willingness to say exactly what she thinks to make things interesting. And given some of the questionable romantic decisions reality TV contestants have made over the years, putting a wall between them might actually be an improvement.
‘Blind Date’ premieres in 2027 on Disney+.
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