Since the arrival of Love Island in 2015, fans have been demanding a spin-off for singles from an older generation – and ITV has finally answered our prayers with My Mum, Your Dad.
The 10-part series takes a group of parents looking for a second chance at romance and invites them to a country house retreat, where they’ll head off on dates and mingle with other eligible empty-nesters. But while the show sounds very Love Island-esque, host Davina McCall is determined to set it apart from its younger ITV2 cousin.
“It’s my fault that it got called Midlife Love Island – that’s what I called it in an email to [Commissioning Editor] Amanda Stavri. I’ve been trying to burn that name ever since!” the 55-year-old admits.
The former Big Brother host, who jokes that she “manifested” the gig, approached ITV with her idea for a middle-aged dating show and even put a few friends forward as contestants. “I wrote out five bios of friends of mine – it was hilarious, I really went to town,” Davina laughs. “But Amanda was really sweet, she got back to me quickly and said, ‘We’re not going to do that!’”
The channel ultimately decided to go with another format, based on an Australian show of the same name, but asked a delighted Davina to front what became My Mum, Your Dad. “I just can’t believe it’s happened because I really do believe in it so much,” she gushes. “There are so many second-time-round-ers who’ve lost someone or been unsuccessful [in love] time and time again. We can all relate to that.”
While the eight single parents arrive for a fortnight of dating fun, what they don’t know is that their grown-up kids – who nominated them for the show – are watching from a bunker nearby, where they’ll be playing matchmaker. “I think you do wonder, are they going to just take the mickey out of their parents? Are they going to take it seriously?” Davina says. “But it matters to them more than anything. I was very proud – the kids were extremely fair, magnanimous, kind, thoughtful and some were quite outspoken.”
Thankfully, there are no cameras in the bedrooms so the kids don’t see more than they should – but they’ll still witness moments that have them gripping “cushions in front of their faces”.
“It could be over something quite small because they’ve never seen their parents in a date situation,” Davina reveals. “For me personally speaking, I’d rather watch the hint of love and a moment of tenderness – that’s so exciting. Jumping into bed and shagging, once you’ve seen it, it doesn’t mean anything. This really means something – when you see people falling in love.”
Among those hoping to find a match are safeguarding officer Sharon, 53, from Sunderland, Scottish baby clinic assistant Caroline, 51 and Essex PE teacher Elliott, 53, to name a few. However, it was recent widower Roger who Davina took a shine to.
“Roger is a style icon,” Davina says of the 58-year-old postman. “What I love about him is he always says the wrong thing. There’s always a slight overshare – like when he says on a date, ‘I use my toothbrush to brush the dog’s teeth.’ He’s phenomenal!”
There are other moments where Davina becomes a much-needed shoulder to cry on for the contestants, who’ve all faced numerous hurdles in their love lives. “For Monique – a 50-year-old therapist from North London – we were talking about intimacy and love and it triggered something in her that was incredibly painful so she had to leave the room. She’s terrified of being rejected and letting someone in.
“When you have a complete crisis of confidence, one moment you’ve got self-esteem and the next you haven’t – and it doesn’t get better as you get older. You can rationalise it more but it’s still there.”
Davina, who herself found second time love with hair stylist Michael Douglas following the break down of her marriage, admits that she was conscious not to become too involved in the contestants’ dating lives. “I wanted to be in there all the time giving them advice but actually, you’ve got to let it play out. The more you get involved, it’s a mistake. What do I know? I don’t know these people.
“What’s lovely is that they come and go from the house – there are no evictions. It’s not like we’re going to chuck someone out. If they don’t think they’re going to find love, they decide it’s time to leave. I think when you’ve exhausted everybody in the house and you don’t fancy anymore, it’s a hard place to be.”
However, the moment the silver singles learn of their young ones’ surveillance is one to behold, Davina teases. “It’s almost like they’re on the brink of death because their entire life flashes before them,” the mum of three giggles. “They all look at each other like, ‘Oh god!’ It’s very funny.”
As for the future of My Mum, Your Dad, Davina is planning to manifest a second series. “I hope it’s something kids can watch with their families and you can all have a bit of a laugh and a cry together,” she says. “In your 40s and 50s, when you’ve got children, life is complicated – but midlifers deserve to love and spend the rest of their lives with somebody.”
My Mum, Your Dad starts on Monday 11 September, airing Monday to Friday at 9pm on ITV
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