The decision was made “in light of [their] funding challenges”
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY BBC
In a dark day for LGBTQIA+ reality TV show fans, the BBC has announced that I Kissed A Girl (IKAG) – and its gay male counterpart I Kissed A Boy – will not be returning to our screens.
Launched in 2023, the I Kissed A… franchise was quickly adored by LGBTQIA+ audiences and allies alike. The show saw 10 singletons enter an Italian masseria for a summer of love, complete with challenges, lots of smooching and some drama. Legendary ally Dannii Minogue hosted the show.
In a statement first published by The Sun, a spokesperson for the BBC said: “We are exceptionally proud of I Kissed A Boy/Girl, the UK’s first dating show for the LGBTQ+ community. We would like to thank our fabulous cupid Dannii Minogue and the entire team at Twofour for bringing the series to screen. Unfortunately, we have to make difficult choices in light of our funding challenges and there are no current plans for the show to return.”
This news feels like a particular blow to the sapphic community, who lost Netflix’s The Ultimatum: Queer Love just last year.
IKAG royalty Amy Spalding lamented the news on Instagram, posting a story which read: “Us queers can’t have anything nice smh.”
The first series of IKAG was groundbreaking for the sapphic community, providing us with representation that many had dreamt of. Alongside flirting and crushing, IKAG also showed audiences powerful conversations about lesbian identities, coming out and being your authentic self. The overwhelmingly positive response to the show is a testament to its power.
On fan on X wrote: “what the fuck???? i kissed a girl was the best thing to happen, fuck u bbc.”
Speaking to social media, Dannii Minogue said: “I’m so proud that this show has given us the chance to celebrate so many people from the LGBTQ+ community who have made up our wonderful cast.”
“I can’t wait for you to see the brand new series of I Kissed A Girl, bringing all the excitement and joy that this show represents. The integrity and intention of why I Kissed A… was created, along with the love and care from the crew and production over the four seasons, has made it the most special experience for me in almost 40 years of television.”
The second season of IKAG is expected to still go ahead later this year.
You can watch the I Kissed A… franchise on BBC iPlayer now.
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