‘BBC’s Stranded on Honeymoon Island is proof dating shows can feature queer couples if they choose to’

Stars of new BBC reality dating show Stranded on Honeymoon Island have said that the series proves other, similar shows can be LGBTQ+ inclusive “if they choose to be”.

Stranded on Honeymoon Island, hosted by Davina McCall, sees a group of singletons embark on speed dating sessions, before a matchmaker pairs them up, and sends them to a remote island.

Once there, the couples get married before even knowing each other’s names, and then embark on a three week honeymoon together while stranded on an island.

One of the couples is Helen, 35, and Abby, 32, who appeared to have a pretty instant connection during their speed date in episode one, which aired on 3 September.

After getting married, the pair seemed to be one of the stronger couples, but a few bumps in the road – including Abby being a “top moaner” and Helen having a cold sore which prevented them from kissing – appeared to get in the way.

With three more weeks of episodes to go, there’s no telling where their journey will end up. Speaking exclusively to PinkNews, the couple shared that at the very least, they hope their story will encourage other TV reality dating shows to include more queer couples.

Helen said she respects Stranded on Honeymoon Island as the show is “not focused on our sexuality in any way”.

“I like that it’s not a queer show because we’re here, we’re walking amongst you, straight people,” she said.

“I’m so pleased that they’ve involved queer cast members because we’re looking for love just like anybody else.

“It’s really nice that it’s mixed and I hope that it is the start of showing all of these different shows that you can [have LGBTQ+ contestants] and you can be diverse if you choose to be. Get on with it!”

While the BBC is spearheading the increase of LGBTQ+ dating shows with the release of I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl, other popular UK dating shows like Love Island and Love Is Blind have decided not to feature queer couples. 

As Helen and Abby have shown, queer folk can get just as loved up – and just as dramatic – as straight couples.

Helen explained that there were initially “really good vibes” between the couple and that they fancied each other instantly.

“It was like a really immediate, ‘Oh you look f**king fit and the energy’s really good.’ So I was really excited,” she said.

But, as episode two and three showed, there could be some blockades on their path to love.

“To be honest with you, days two, three, maybe four and five – you’ll have to watch next week – show that the shininess wore off and I think the reality of how difficult this experience was going to be really set in for us,” Helen explained.

“We end up having some quite fraught conversations as we try to navigate both of our personal experiences.”

A preview for next week’s episodes, shown at the end of episode three which is currently streaming on iPlayer, suggests tensions bubbling between the pair as they are unable to be intimate due to Helen having a cold sore.

“That is a thing for me,” said Abby about why she struggled not being physical with Helen.

“It’s just one of those things you would like to explore. So it obviously was hard and became harder throughout those few initial days… it’s hard to go to that next stage between the barrier of friendship, relationship, [without] the intimacy.”

For Helen, though she “wanted to be intimate with Abby”, she was frustrated that the lack of physical touch appeared to hinder their connection.

“I just felt like the fact that we couldn’t kiss being a blocker as to whether we could move forward in the relationship just didn’t sit right with me really,” she said.

“It was a big hurdle for us because it was stopping one of us from feeling like they could move forward in the relationship.”

As for the how the rest of their time on the show will go, it remains to be seen. The pair shared a “beautiful, exciting fireworks beginning” but the end could be explosive.

“Let’s face it,” Helen said, “in any marriage there’s ups and downs and our marriage was no different. The great thing is that you get to come on a bit of a rollercoaster with us.”

Stranded on Honeymoon Island airs on BBC One at 9pm BST, Wednesdays to Fridays. It also streams on BBC iPlayer.

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