What’s most important, looks or personality? That’s the ultimate question when it comes to dating and relationships – and in reality show Love Is Blind, that question is put to the test.
Following a successful stint in the US where it is now on its sixth season – as well as instalments in Brazil, Japan and Sweden – the popular Netflix series returns, this time looking to help singletons in the UK find romance.
Hosts and married couple Emma and Matt Willis are joining forces on-screen for the first time in almost two decades.
“I love matchmaking,” Emma told Sky News.
“People have asked us over the years if we would ever do anything together again. And we’ve always said we would if it felt right. This came along and we were like, this seems right.”
The Voice presenter admits coupling people up is one of her much-loved pastimes.
“Honestly, it’s one of my favourite things to do. So, when they were like, ‘Well, this could be your job…’ I was like, ‘Okay!'”
The former Big Brother host adds: “I love a social experiment. I’ve made a career out of it.”
Husband Matt agrees, telling Sky News: “Whenever Emma meets a single person, she’s already fixing them up in her head with someone she knows.”
So, how exactly does the show work?
If you’ve seen the US version, you’re probably familiar with the iconic pods.
These are where the contestants “speed date” – without seeing one another’s faces.
The show sees 15 men and 15 women getting to know each other – amounting to an impressive 225 dates on the first day, alone.
Singer and musician Matt says it was incredible to watch.
“As Brits, we are quite cynical, I think.
“But there’s something about this environment, something about being in these pods for such a long time that you just make these connections, and you fall madly in love.”
If the contestants hit it off, they can then decide whether they want to get hitched to the partner of their choice (that’s if the feeling is mutual of course).
And, only once that’s confirmed do they finally meet in person.
“You’ve just got to hope when they see each other it’s not a shambles.”
‘We tried the pods out’
The couple – who met in the early noughties – say dating habits have really changed, especially when it comes to having preset expectations and ideals about a relationship.
Emma says: “Back then, you just kind of met in a bar or at work – it was a very social thing.
“But now in a world of online dating, which maybe I shouldn’t really talk about because I’ve never experienced and I don’t really know it, but seeing my friends that do it, I think it’s kind of there for you already, isn’t it?
“There’s a blueprint of, ‘This is me, this is what I like, this is what I want to show you of myself’.
“The one thing you do see is the people that kind of go in with ‘the list’ – that can very quickly disperse because you sit down, you start talking to somebody and there’s a connection.”
Busted star Matt adds: “I think that’s the beauty of the show – you have time to get over those things because you have a lot of time with them, with no distractions.
“We tried the pods out, me and Emma, and it’s very easy. You can understand why you would just want to sit there all day and chat.”
What next?
Now for the real challenge.
Over the coming weeks, the newly engaged couples will move in together, plan their upcoming nuptials and find out whether their relationship can stand the test of time in the outside world.
But will the physical connection match the emotional one – and can they make it down the aisle?
Emma says: “They are doing a lot really quickly. We’ve spoken to a couple of them since [filming the show], and they said it’s a lot.
“It’s a lot to process and it’s a lot to take on board. There is so much going on all at once. You start overthinking everything.”
‘It’s never a smooth path’
Matt and Emma – who recently celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary and have three children together – say there is no “smooth path” in relationships.
They’ve previously been open about Matt’s struggles with alcohol and drugs in the BBC documentary – Fighting Addiction – and the impact it’s had on their lives.
“There are always challenges – whether you’ve been together for five minutes, five years or 50 years,” says Emma.
“We are always changing and we’re always evolving and hopefully you change and evolve together – as long as you can do that together and understand it of each other, then hopefully you’ll continue to do that.”
Matt agrees: “I think that’s life in a way, isn’t it? Life is struggle. And it’s what you do in those moments which makes things stronger.
“And for us, like in any relationship, if everything’s great, what happens when it’s not? That’s what I think is the testament of relationships.”
When can we watch Love Is Blind: UK?
The first four episodes of Love Is Blind: UK will be available to stream on Netflix from Wednesday 7 August.
But you’ll have to wait another week for the next five to drop – with the final two out on Wednesday 21 August.
So, what’s the verdict? Can love truly be blind?
Emma and Matt seem to think so, admitting: “I think looks are always going to play a part.
“But absolutely, love can be blind. It can be. We’ve seen it be blind – without giving away any spoilers.”
We’ll just have to wait and see.