The BBC’s bold new dating experiment, Stranded on Honeymoon Island, hosted by Davina McCall, is a new series that pairs up unlucky-in-love singles post speed dating for just five minutes before whisking the most compatible pairs to a remote tropical island, where romance has to survive without phones, modern comforts, or an easy escape: just two people, the elements, and the hope of real connection.
One of those brave contestants is Helen Scott, a 35-year-old Essex girl with a big heart and a sharp sense of humour who married Abby Reynolds.
We sat down with Helen, one half of the show’s newlywed lesbian couple, to talk about what made her say yes to such an extreme experiment, how it felt to date under the gaze of cameras and coconuts, and what she learned from her time on the island.
How did you end up on the show?
I was sitting in Manchester’s Gay Village with a spicy margarita when I got a call asking me to do the show. With a bit of tequila in me, I thought, ‘this sounds fun, this sounds exciting’.
The next day, I sobered up and thought it sounded a bit mad but it could also be a really great way to meet someone.
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How much information did you have before you went, or were any elements a surprise?
It’s reality TV. You’d be mad to go in thinking nothing unexpected would happen. Especially in 2025! I went in with the mindset of: I don’t know what’s going to happen to me over the next four weeks, but I’m just going to throw myself into it.
How did your family and friends react to you signing up?
My friends and family know I’m a romantic, so they weren’t surprised.
Back in 2020, my brother, who’s only a year older than me, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. My mum also got really poorly and was diagnosed with breast cancer. And they were actually the ones who pushed me to do it.
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At first, I thought, ‘I’ve got so much going on at home, should I really be leaving?’ But with everything that’s happened, I’ve developed this attitude of don’t wait for tomorrow, say yes to everything, because you never know what’s going to happen.
If I hadn’t gone through what I’ve been through, maybe I wouldn’t have done the show. But my family were so supportive. They said, “You have to do it.”
What was your biggest takeaway from the experience?
You don’t need all the material stuff! Stereotypically, I’m very feminine. Fake tan, Essex girl, extensions, lashes. But the reality is you don’t need any of it. And I think more than that, without all of the phones, filters, and ways of altering ourselves, love feels more real.
On the island, there was no hiding, no pretending. You had to be yourself, and that was actually really lovely.
What was the hardest part of the experience?
Coming back was hard. I was handed my phone and I just thought, ‘I don’t want it. I don’t want to go online. As cliché as that sounds, the big takeaway is that the material stuff doesn’t matter.
What did you miss most while you were there?
My Kindle. I’m a book lesbian, truly! Sometimes there was just no escape, so being able to read would have been a lifesaver. I also missed my cats loads. Classic 35-year-old lesbian answer.
Did you feel any pressure dating on TV?
Of course. I’m human. Cameras in your face, a stranger in front of you, a new environment. It’s intense. But you actually forget the cameras are there pretty quickly, which is a blessing because then you can relax and be yourself.
There is an element of vulnerability, but I found it freeing. People can have opinions, but I don’t care. I was brave; I opened myself up. You’ve just got to love who you are. If you’re cool with yourself, you can deal with whatever comes next.
On some dating shows, the cast can be as young as 20. Can you imagine yourself going on a show like that at that age?
No. What makes this show special is that the cast is a bit older. I’ve never done reality TV before, and there’s a reason for that. But this felt different. It was more about connection, more meaningful. At 20, I wouldn’t have been ready. I’m 35 now; I know who I am, I’ve lived, I’ve done all the things people in their twenties are doing now. That’s what made it the right time.
Do you have any pearls of wisdom now that you’re on the other side of the experience?
Yes! Just be yourself. You are perfect as you are. Don’t try to mould yourself to please someone else, because that only makes you unhappy.
It’s very RuPaul. ‘If you can’t love yourself, how are you gonna love somebody else?’ But it’s true. This experience really proved that.
You can watch Stranded on Honeymoon Island on BBC iPlayer now.
Enjoy,
Nonchalant x
Molly is a full-time journalist based in London covering legal and business, alongside culture, music, arts, and tech.
