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Iconic Brit TV show RETURNING after 22 years with Claudia Winkleman, Holly Willoughby or Davina McCall lined up to host
It is believed the deep pockets of Disney+ ensured it won out the revived show over the BBC
TV love-match show Blind Date is returning to screens 22 years after the late Cilla Black last hosted it.
There had been rumours the Saturday night ITV classic was to be revived on the BBC.
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However, in a surprise twist, the reboot will go instead to global streaming service Disney+.
Producers want to keep the tradition of a top British female host, with a shortlist including Claudia Winkleman, Holly Willoughby and Davina McCall.
The famous sliding wall separating the contestants will also return.
But it is not known whether it will feature a replacement for Graham Skidmore — aka “our Graham” — who provided Cilla with a summary of contestants. He died in 2021 aged 90.
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He has plenty of famous namesakes, including chat show host Graham Norton, football pundit Graeme Souness and actor Stephen Graham.
An insider said: “Although there’s likely to be some modern twists, the bosses very much want to keep the essence of the original.
“There’ll be key elements returning, including the famous sliding wall.
“Plus there will be a prize up for grabs of a wedding package, which echoes Cilla’s famous gag whenever couples had enjoyed a successful date, and she used to ask, ‘Do I need to buy an ‘at for the wedding?’”
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The Sun last year revealed plans for a revival after another old Saturday night ITV hit, Gladiators, had successfully switched to the BBC.
It is believed the deep pockets of Disney+ ensured it won out over the Beeb.
Paul O'Grady pays tribute to original blind date host Cilla Black
It is expected to film later this year — 40 years after Blind Date first aired — and drop in 2026.
The ITV original ran from 1985 to 2003, pulling in up to 18million viewers.
After Cilla’s death in 2015, aged 72, it was briefly revived two years later on Channel 5 with Paul O’Grady.
Disney+ was asked to comment.
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