E4 TO TAKE ON LOVE AFTER LOCKDOWN WITH CELEBS GO VIRTUAL DATING

Category: News Release

BRAND NEW SERIES COMING TO E4 THIS SUMMER

E4 is to put the dating skills of four celebrities to the test in brand new series Celebs Go Virtual Dating. This new spin off to E4’s flagship reality series Celebs Go Dating, will bring all the dating drama of its sister show, but with the added challenges of video vetting love matches and trying to find that spark on a socially distanced date. How will our frisky four fare when getting up close and personal is off the table? Will they still excel in turning on the charm, or buckle under the remote pressure?

Since the beginning of lockdown in March, the UK’s pool of singles have been spending an average of seven hours a week ‘virtually dating’. With an even greater need for human interaction during this time, will the Celebs Go Dating agents successfully find our famous four somebody they could see themselves isolating with?

Brought to you by Extra chewing gum, the series will see expert dating agents, Paul C Brunson and Anna Williamson return to the celebrity dating agency, ably assisted by junior Client Coordinator and celeb confidante, Tom Read Wilson. The trio will guide the celebs through the unchartered and potentially choppy waters of online love and distanced dating. Rob Beckett will also be back delivering his trademark wit as voiceover. 

The celebrities will be set up on a series of dates, either remotely from home, or outdoors adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Paul C Brunson said: “I can’t wait to throw the agency doors “virtually” wide open. This series will be an exciting experiment to see how our celebs deal with dating as well as the added restrictions they wouldn’t normally have to navigate.”

Anna Williamson said: “I’m so excited to get the agency back up and running. We are really intrigued to see what dating looks like during this time, and looking forward to seeing how our date-ees handle dating in lockdown.”

Vivienne Molokwu, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor said: “Diversifying funding models to create quality content is more important than ever to E4 and we’re excited to be working with the brand Extra to see how celebs navigate the dos and the definitely do nots of romance, relationships and possibly rejection in this brand new dating landscape.”

Head of Unscripted Content for Lime Pictures Sarah Tyekiff said: “We are so excited to bring Celebs Go Virtual Dating to people’s screens. It’s a really interesting time to see how everyone is dating during lockdown and our brave celebs are going to let us in on how they are doing it all wrapped up with the hilarious voiceover magic of Rob Beckett.”

Sasha Storey, Extra Senior Brand Manager said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Celebs Go Virtual Dating and to be helping people find their perfect match. We hope to have created the perfect campaign to bring confidence to young, single and looking daters as they navigate the new world of virtual dating.”

Tune into E4 this summer to see if the agency manages to match the ‘perfect pair’ on Celebs Go Virtual Dating!

*ENDS*

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Celebs Go Virtual Dating is produced by Lime Pictures. This series will consist of 5x30 minute episodes.

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Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With more than $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN’S®, and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 115,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

For more information contact:

Catherine.Hunter@limepictures.com