Behind The Scenes
The former X Factor host spills the beans on Seven’s new reality dating show
Move over Married At First Sight! Seven’s The Proposal is being touted as one of the most exciting dating shows to hit television screens this year – and for host Luke Jacobz, that’s exactly why he signed on.
“It’s really crazy,” the 38-year-old tells Woman’s Day in an exclusive interview. “To me it sounded so nuts and intriguing, and just a bit of fun – that’s what drew me to it.”
Each episode sees a new mystery suitor or suitress hide behind a “commitment ring” on stage, while eight singletons attempt to win over their heart – all in front of a huge studio audience.
After four elimination rounds, the final two singles will have the chance to propose marriage or be proposed to. And while the concept sounds wild, Luke says the “light-hearted” show is about taking it back
to basics – and finding true love rather than making headline-hitting drama.
“There are so many different shows out there at the moment and they’re all about competition and confrontation and arguing. This is just about watching two people seeing if they’ve got a spark and if it could be turned into a relationship that will last a long time. There’s no fighting, there’s no one trying to be a smartarse and no one trying to make anyone else feel bad.”
This was a strategic casting move, with Luke insisting the show aims to put the spotlight on “genuine people looking for genuine love”.
“So many of these people haven’t been in a relationship in a really long time – they don’t want to get onto an app and swipe and don’t want to meet up with someone who could potentially be full of themselves.
“It’s just people being genuinely honest and saying, ‘Right, this is who I am.’
“There were people there who hadn’t had a lot of luck with love, so they’re willing to do a little bit more than they normally would...
“They’re standing in front of an audience with a couple of hundred people and there are cameras everywhere getting every angle, and usually [with dating] you hold back for a couple of weeks because you don’t want to let all your secrets out, but we give them an hour,” says Luke.
So what will Aussies think of The Proposal? “We’ve had a very good success rate – I know for a fact some of the couples are still madly in love and that’s really sweet,” Luke says, adding the love stories are very unlike others we’ve been seeing on reality TV.
THE PROPOSAL is slated to premiere on Seven soon