The UK’s first British Sign Language (BSL) dating show, Hold My Hand, premiered this week, offering a new platform for deaf and Children of Deaf Adults (CODA) individuals to connect, according to contestant Oliver Scott.
Scott, 27, from Norwich, described the experience as “refreshing,” noting he had often wondered why deaf individuals were not represented in mainstream dating shows. He explained, through an interpreter, that concerns about communication barriers and the fast-paced nature of typical reality TV formats had previously felt insurmountable. “We’d say it’s impossible because of the communication, everybody talking, the different games are quite fast-paced, the gossip, the drama,” he said. “How would I get to know people? It might be quite difficult.”
Hold My Hand, produced by LumoTV, a deaf-led streaming platform, features contestants who communicate using BSL. The show is hosted by deaf identical twins Hermon and Heroda Berhane. The three-part series aims to showcase deaf culture and identity, providing visibility often absent from mainstream media. Scott said he was able to “genuinely get to know a girl better” and “have a bit of banter” during filming.
The launch of Hold My Hand follows increasing efforts to improve representation of the deaf community on British television. In 2022, Tasha Ghouri became the first deaf contestant on the ITV dating show Love Island. The BBC has also announced a range of new programming showcasing BSL, including the return of its flagship program for the Deaf community, See Hear, in April. New series, Rose Ayling-Ellis: Traditional Hands, New Tricks and bilingual drama Reunion are also planned, alongside increased deaf representation in popular BBC brands like Sort Your Life Out and Morning Live.
The BBC’s commitment to BSL extends beyond programming, with the launch of a new Snapchat filter designed to encourage audiences to learn basic BSL phrases. See Hear, produced by Signpost Entertainment, will return from a new home at the Quayside in Newcastle, featuring actor Danny Murphy, who plays the show’s first deaf character in the long-running drama Waterloo Road. The program will also include discussions with screenwriter and director Charlie Swinbourne on deaf visibility in mainstream media, and a segment answering questions about the Deaf community.
The BBC stated that British Sign Language is an essential part of the UK’s cultural and linguistic diversity, and that representation is crucial both on and off screen. Further series of See Hear, plus six special episodes, are planned throughout the year.
