10 May 2023 , 22:52
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Dannii Minogue hopes her new dating show will help to "spark conversations" as it becomes the UK's first-ever gay dating programme.
The pop icon, 51, will front the groundbreaking BBC show I Kissed A Boy where ten single men will be paired up with the guy best suited to them.
The new matches will then have to share a kiss to see if sparks fly, with Dannii playing cupid.
The former X-Factor judge admits she "learnt so much" whilst working on the show and saw the benefits it could have when comparing the concept to her own relationship.
"I am hoping that this show sparks conversation between the gays, the gays and their friends, the gays and their families and the gays and allies," she told The Mirror.
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Dannii Minogue is hoping I Kissed A Boy will start conversations (BBC/Two Four)
The singer explained she "learnt so much" while hosting the dating programme (Getty Images)"I learnt so much, I kind of thought I have been to lots of Prides, I have been to Mardi Gras, I have got lots of gay friends but you guys don't talk like you do in front of the girls.
"You talk differently when it's just the boys and now I know that so that's fine, I get it," Dannii revealed.
The singer also admitted she loves the fact the contestants enjoyed being without their mobile phones whilst on the show.
In a subtle dig at her partner, she added: "I love the fact the guys said it was great not to have their phones.
"I am in a 10-year relationship and you can send a text message and then there's silence for a bit and then you're like 'Okay maybe if I read that back I can read it a different way'."
I Kissed A Boy is the first of its kind (BBC/Two Four)Dannii has been dating songwriter Adrian Newman for the past ten years and tends to keep their relationship away from the public eye.
Last year, the Aussie opened up about her relationship with Adrian during an appearance on KIIS FM's Kyle & Jackie O Show, after he was described as her "secret new bloke".
She exclaimed: "It's not a secret, you ask me this every time, we've been going out for nine years.
"Every time anyone prints a picture of him, they go 'secret man', 'never seen', he's just not interested in anything to do with the public eye."
Dannii revealed she was "honoured" to take on the presenting job when appearing on Lorraine last year.
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She said: “I feel like it's been years since we’ve been watching so many dating shows, whether it's on an island, whether it's in a house. It’s just time for something for the LGBT community.”
She previously stated she was "honoured" to present the programme (BBC/Two Four/iStock)Lorraine noted that Dannii had long been an ally of the gay community, saying: “You were performing in gay clubs before anyone else did, you were always there and that’s really, really important, which is why this is the perfect job for you. Nobody else could have done this.”
Dannii said: “It’s something I want to do with a lot of heart and soul and do it proud and do it well.
“The whole country, whether you’re trying to go out on a date now or you’ve been on dating apps, there are so many people who are lonely, who are looking for love. So hopefully we’ll make some beautiful guys very happy.”
Fiona Campbell, Controller of BBC Three, said at the time of the show’s announcement: “I Kissed a Boy is a brilliant new show in the dating space that we think has huge potential for BBC Three.
“We hope our audience will love the heady mix of drama and heart-warming romance that we know the series will bring.”
I Kissed a Boy premieres this Sunday (May 14) on BBC Three at 9pm.