All you need to know about new 'Midlife Love Island' - from villa to stars
A dating show for mums and dads in a stunning villa? No wonder it’s been dubbed ‘Midlife Love Island ’.
It’s a nickname for which Davina McCall, who hosts ITV1’s brand new format My Mum, Your Dad, is happy to take full responsibility. The 55-year-old laughs: “That was my fault because that’s what I called it, then producers have been trying to burn that name ever since.”
Regardless of its name, the long-anticipated show starts its two-week, nightly run this evening, and ratings will soon determine if we’re about to fall in love with the concept of older people dating – or prefer the traditional 20-something shows instead.
The format’s certainly intriguing – nine single parents have been nominated by their grown-up kids to confront their fears and find love,while the kids secretly pull the strings. “There’s no prize money. The prize is love,” explains mum-of-three Davina, who has been dating celebrity hair stylist Michael Douglas, 49, since splitting from husband Matthew Robertson in 2017.
She adds: “It often happens in your 40s and 50s, where you’ve got children, life is complicated. But more than ever you’re at a point where you deserve to find love. Everybody deserves love but it’s hard to find.”
All you need to know about the My Mum Your Dad contestants
My Mum, Your Dad starts on Monday (ITV)THE CONCEPTION
Davina begged producers to do a midlife dating show for months, even writing biographies of five friends as contestant examples. “It was hilarious, I really went to town,” laughs Davina.
TV execs then asked Davina to host the UK version of this show, already a hit in Australia and America. Davina says: “I watched the Australian one with my mum and we couldn’t stop watching because of the cliffhangers. After four episodes, each 90-minutes long, my mum said ‘I’ve got to go for a wee’! Thank goodness this show is going daily!”
HOW IT WORKS
Eight mums or dads in their 40s and 50s are sent to a gorgeous country house, knowing they’ve been nominated by their grown-up kids for a second chance at love. Each weeknight for two weeks, viewers can follow the parents as they date each other and take part in therapy-style workshops.
But there’s a twist - their kids are secretly watching their every move from ‘The Bunker’ plus deciding which parents go on dates together. Unlike other shows, people come and go but there are no evictions.
THE VILLA
The Retreat for the contestants (ITV)The show is filmed in ‘The Retreat’, an £8 million country house in Midhurst, Sussex, with a large driveway, tennis court, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, steam room, sauna, gym, spa, and hot tub.
Locals have given it a cheeky nickname - “Viagra House”. Unlike Love Island however, there are cameras everywhere BUT the bedrooms. The idea is to watch “the hint” of something coming, says Davina, not “jumping into bed with each other.”
The emphasis is on discussions and connections not ‘mugging off’ and silly games. Expect picnic dates not fireside bust-ups.
Davina McCall's split from first hubby, rarely-seen kids and finding love again
The pool for the cast to relax in (ITV)WHO’S WHO?
The “fussy” therapist
Monique, 50, a therapist and daughter Taiya, 21, a student, from Winchmore Hill, North London. Monique says: “My dating history has been disappointing and disheartening with poor judgement. I find it hard to read somebody properly. On a date I’m very honest and that can be quite offensive.”
Taiya says: “My mum put everything aside to raise me and my sister. It’s her time. I tell her not to be so fussy, it’s not realistic.”
Monique is one of those hopeful for love (ITV)
Davina McCall is presenting the new show (ITV)The one who’s blinded by looks
Sharon, 53, a welfare officer and daughter Tia, 24, a social media influencer, from Sunderland. Sharon says: “I would sum up my dating history in one word - sad. I’ve got to a point in my life where my confidence has been knocked down a lot and I’ve got low self-esteem.”
Tia says: “She attracts the wrong guys. She goes more for looks so I want her not to go for the six-pack men.”
Tia and her mum Sharon (ITV)The relationship expert without a relationship....
Natalie, 44, a relationship recovery coach, and son Kaliel, 20, a plumbing apprentice, from Bournemouth. Natalie says: “I’ve been on my own for a long time, building my business and focusing on my kids. My dating history has been a colourful shambles.
“I don’t want my children to have to watch me kiss on screen - it’s the noises.” Kaliel says: “I think she will be embarrassed that I’ve been watching her, cringing at all the things I’ve seen!”
Natalie and son Kaliel (ITV)The one who loves a bad boy....
Caroline, 51, works at baby clinic and daughter Karli, 20, a flight attendant, from South Lanarkshire. Caroline says: “I’ve had a colourful dating history, but I’m a bad judge of character. It’s been a bit of a pattern. I’d like to meet someone genuine with good morals who smiles a lot.”
Karli says: “She’s kind and loyal, bubbly with lots of energy. She needs a best friend.”
Karli and mum Caroline (ITV)The hobbyist dad
Paul, 47, owns a decorating company, and daughter Mazey, 21, a student, from Bath. Paul says: “My issue has been not opening up. I’ve never managed to really find that ‘one’. Online dating and apps are so monotonous, it’s the same conversations. I want to find someone that’s on my wavelength, someone to question me and challenge me.”
Mazey says: “I want him to date outside of the box. He’s relaxed and random, he’s got a million hobbies.”
Paul and daughter Mazey (ITV)Mr In Too Deep....
Clayton, 57, a pastoral support officer, and son Christian, 35, a graphic artist, from Nottingham. Clayton says: “Dating has been a little bit hit and miss. I get really excited and get fully invested and it just goes.”
Christian says: “Maybe if my dad is with a group of females he’ll get tips of where he’s gone wrong. He needs someone who has drive, someone traditional and with manners. A patient woman with a bit of culture as we’re a big Jamaican family.”
Christian and son Clayton (ITV)The widower postie
Roger, 58, a postman, and daughter Jess, 28, a network rail planner, from Derbyshire. Roger says: “Following my wife passing 18 months ago, I didn’t really want to meet anyone. But I’m going on the show to get some confidence. I know I’m laying myself bare.”
Jess says: “My brother and sister and I wanted to tell him that we were happy for him to start dating. He’s funny, handsome and caring. He needs someone with a sense of humour.”
Jessica and dad Roger (ITV)The disaster dater
Elliott, 53, a PE teacher, and son Zachary, 21, a student, from Essex. Elliott says: “Internet dating becomes like a business meeting most of the time. You meet a lot of people for a lot of coffees. I’m a dating disaster - I took someone on a date to a bathroom shop sale once.”
Zachary says: “My dad is a massive overthinker and probably quite impatient with the process of dating. But he’s extremely caring, passionate, heartfelt, decent-looking and active.”
Elliott and son Zachary (ITV)The empty nester
Janey, 47, a singer and recruitment manager, and son Will, 19, a student, from West Sussex. Janey says: “My son’s lost all hope for me, he thinks I’m undateable! I’ve lived alone with William for pretty much his whole life and he’s now left for uni and wants to see that I’m ok.”
Will says: “It’s getting a bit desperate now! She’s an outgoing chatty lady who’s up for a drink.”
William and mum Janey (ITV)SARA'S REVIEW
Nobody wants to see a middle-aged mum playing Snog, Marry, Pie or a 50-something dad do a lap dance dressed as a firefighter before it all breaks out into a brawl beside the firepit…
OK, well actually, maybe you do, but thank goodness this dating show is actually way more sophisticated than Love Island. The comparisons are inevitable, with daters in a villa (sorry, Retreat) and the pairing off (and re-pairing off).
And it does not go unnoticed that all the parents and kids fall into the stunning Insta-glam category. They are not a shrieking gaggle of identikit airheads playing stupid games but this is a house full of beautiful people with grown-up issues.
You’ll fall in love with silver fox postie Roger, whose wife died 18 months ago, sobbing as he wonders if he can move on, while you’ll wonder how bombshell Sharon could never find Mr Right.
You will, however, have to get over the slightly icky premise of kids puppet-mastering their parents’ dating lives. At first, the idea of kids watching their mum or dad flirting (or worse) from a surveillance room did make me question the state of reality telly. But there is so much heart with genuine people that I soon got over it.
No one is there for money or fame, there’s too much at stake.
The result is a surprisingly heartwarming and moving show that will have the nation hooked.
- My Mum, Your Dad starts on Monday night and continues weeknights on ITV1 at 9pm and ITVX.
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