The UK’s first and only LGBTQ+ dating show franchise has been axed by the BBC, with the broadcaster confirming that neither I Kissed A Boy nor I Kissed A Girl will return after the upcoming second series of I Kissed A Girl, which is set to air on BBC Three and iPlayer this spring.
The news, first reported by The Sun, means that the I Kissed A… franchise will end after four series total – two of I Kissed A Boy (2023 and 2025) and two of I Kissed A Girl (2024 and 2026). The BBC cited ongoing funding challenges as the reason behind the decision.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We are exceptionally proud of I Kissed A Boy/Girl, the UK’s first dating show for the LGBTQ+ community, and 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.”
Host Dannii Minogue also responded, calling the show “the most special experience” of her nearly four-decade career in television.
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“Thank you, Twofour Productions and BBC for allowing me to be a part of I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl series, it is such a powerful and important show,” 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.”
What the show meant
Since I Kissed A Boy first aired in May 2023, the franchise has held a singular position in British television – the only mainstream dating show dedicated to LGBTQ+ people. While ITV has historically dismissed the idea of making Love Island inclusive of queer contestants, citing “logistical difficulties,” the BBC stepped in with a format that proved there was both an audience and a hunger for it.
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The reaction
Unsurprisingly, the news has not gone down well – and former cast members have been among the first to speak out.
Amy Spalding, a standout contestant from I Kissed A Girl series one, wrote on Instagram: “A tale as old as time I fear. The show brought so much good and hope for the community and I morn all of the potential good the future seasons would have no doubt brought. Absolutely gutted that our time has been cut short. My heartbreaks for everyone who has had that glimpse of representation snatched away from them AGAIN.”
Dan Harry, a fan favourite from the original I Kissed A Boy, also posted his reaction, writing “It was nice while it lasted” alongside the hashtags #ikissedaboy and #ikissedagirl, making clear his disappointment at the cancellation.
Cara Kinney, another series one I Kissed A Girl contestant, commented: “So disappointing. Being part of this show, I’ve seen firsthand how many people finally felt seen and represented. Fingers crossed another channel picks it up.”
Fans echoed the same sentiment. One commenter tagged the BBC directly, writing: “Where’s the representation? There are so many LGBTQ+ people out there who want to see people like them on screen and have the same opportunities that so many heterosexual people have when it comes to dating shows, dramas and documentaries.” They went on to call on ITV to pick up the format, adding: “Well @itv you may have just struck gold. Get your accounts and producers ready babes, these shows need picking up!”
Across social media, the overwhelming feeling is one of frustration – not just at the loss of the show itself, but at what it represents. For many LGBTQ+ viewers, I Kissed A… wasn’t just a dating show. It was one of the only spaces on mainstream television that centred queer love stories with genuine joy and care, and its cancellation feels like yet another step backwards for representation at a time when it’s needed more than ever.
What’s next
The silver lining, if you can call it that, is that there’s still one more series to look forward to. I Kissed A Girl series two will air on BBC Three and iPlayer this spring, with Dannii Minogue returning as host and Charley Marlowe back on narration duties. Ten new queer women will enter the Masseria for one last summer of love.
Make it count, girls.
Nonchalant x
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
