BBC Cancels ‘I Kissed A Girl’ And ‘I Kissed A Boy’ After Citing “Funding Challenges”
The upcoming season two of the lesbian dating show ‘I Kissed A Girl’ will sadly be its last kiss.
Featured image via BBC
The BBC has officially canceled its LGBTQ+ dating franchises I Kissed A Girl and I Kissed A Boy, citing financial pressures and confirming there are “no current plans” for either series to continue beyond the upcoming season.
The announcement lands just weeks after we reported that the network released a teaser trailer for season two of I Kissed A Girl. At the time, the preview signaled the return of one of the few reality shows centered entirely on queer women. Now, that upcoming season will also serve as the show’s final chapter.
In a statement, the BBC confirmed the decision was tied to budget constraints.
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“We are exceptionally proud of I Kissed A Boy/Girl, the UK’s first dating show for the LGBTQ+ community. We would like to thank our fabulous cupid Dannii Minogue and the entire team at Twofour for bringing the series to screen,” a spokesperson said.
“Unfortunately, we have to make difficult choices in light of our funding challenges and there are no current plans for the show to return.”
The I Kissed franchise made its debut in 2023 with I Kissed A Boy, which became the first British dating show to exclusively feature queer men. Its sister series, I Kissed A Girl, arrived the following year with a cast of lesbian and bisexual women.
Each season placed ten singles in an Italian estate and paired them up instantly with someone they might be compatible with. Before even learning each other’s names, the couples kissed. Hey, we’ve all been there!
Throughout the season, participants decided whether to remain with their partner during elimination ceremonies known as the “kiss off.” If someone was left unkissed (we’ve all been there, too), they left the show while new singles entered the house to shake up existing dynamics.
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I Kissed A Girl, in particular, quickly developed a devoted following. Its first season made history as the first UK dating show dedicated to queer women and picked up industry recognition along the way, including a win at the DIVA Awards and nominations from GLAAD and the Broadcast Awards.
“I’m so proud that this show has given us the chance to celebrate so many people from the LGBTQ+ community who have made up our wonderful cast,” Minogue added.
She also encouraged audiences to watch the upcoming season.
“I can’t wait for you to see the brand new series of I Kissed A Girl, bringing all the excitement and joy that this show represents. The integrity and intention of why I Kissed A… was created, along with the love and care from the crew and production over the four seasons, has made it the most special experience for me in almost 40 years of television.”
