The Undateables

1/5: Tuesday 8th January, 9pm, Channel 4

Looking for love can be tricky, but some find it harder than others.  Add disability to the equation and it can sometimes seem almost impossible. This uplifting series returns to follow the journeys of several extraordinary singletons as they enter the dating circuit in pursuit of love.

From a doctor of psychology with dwarfism to a young man with Tourette's, to an office worker with Down's Syndrome, we follow them as they enter the world of blind dates, matchmaking and speed-dating.  Their quest to find love and companionship will take them on a journey of highs and lows, but all are open to finding someone special.

26-year-old Michael is determined to find someone to love - but he's struggling to hold down a relationship. Despite counting  17 girlfriends in the past, some of whom lasted only a few days, his autism means that even holding a conversation with a girl can be a huge challenge. He's looking for a woman to make his "mind, body and soul all into one." We follow him on a speed-dating evening where he meets a woman but is disappointed when she decides she doesn't want to take it any further. After a pep talk from his mum, he pulls out all the stops on a blind date with Helen - will his charm and a red rose win her over?

21-year-old Brent from Plymouth has been single for nearly a year since coming out of a long-term relationship. He's looking for love again although meeting girls can be hard when he doesn't know what might come out of his mouth on a date. Brent was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome when he was 15, and his tics include shouting, swearing and involuntary movements, although rapping helps calm his tics. When Brent was in love, his Tourette's tics virtually disappeared, and he's looking to recapture that. He's looking for someone that he can feel comfortable with: "I know when I sleep in bed next to someone - no Tourette's, no insomnia, no nightmares."  He goes on a date with a girl called Lizzie and they plan to go snow-boarding at a dry ski slope. Will their great rapport put him at ease and keep his Tourette's at bay?

Sarah from Hertfordshire was a well-adjusted 18-year-old when she suffered a stroke during an English lesson. Three and a half years later, she has made a remarkable recovery, although she has been left with a condition called expressive aphasia which makes communication extremely difficult. She can no longer read or write fluently and needs help from her mum for things that other young people don't think twice about, such as text messaging and using Facebook. Any kind of social interaction is a huge challenge, let alone dating. Like most people, she's looking for love - "I want a boyfriend to cuddle. It's been a long time since I've had anyone hug me." We watch as she goes boating with city worker Gary - could he be the man she's been looking for?

With the help of Flame Introductions, a bespoke personal introduction agency,  and Stars in the Sky, a specialist dating agency for people with learning difficulties, this touching series explores the realities of looking for love in our anonymous, fast-paced, image-obsessed world, where all too often people make snap judgements or assumptions based on first impressions.

Series Director: Luke Sewell
Directors: Kathryn Tregidgo, Chris McLaughlin
Series Producer: Sarah Spencer
Executive Producers: Amelia Hann, Walter Iuzzolino
Production Company: Betty TV
Commissioning Editors: Liam Humphreys, Lucy Leveugle