Brave volunteers will grin and bare it in search for true love
NAKED ATTRACTION (Tonight, Channel 4, 10pm)
THE dating show that makes Take Me Out look like something from a Jane Austen novel is back for a new series.
If you’ve missed the previous two runs, it invites someone to whittle down six potential suitors, who are all standing naked in a pod and revealed one body part at a time, based on what they find least attractive.
Even after two successful runs, some people still think that the show’s main appeal is the chance to gawk at nude members of the public, but the fully clothed presenter Anna Richardson insists it’s much more than that. She says: “Naked Attraction is such an important series.
“It’s not just about being naked, it’s about acceptance, individuality and confidence. It’s brave and it’s out there, and I see that as a very positive thing.”
She could have a point. In the past, the show has sparked conversations about body confidence, sexuality and gender, as well what people really find attractive.
But is it a good way to meet people? Anna thinks so, saying: “More often than not you meet someone based on what they look like, and whether you have the rapport and shared values.
“You then you might take them home and get their clothes off but you may then look at that person and go ‘Oh... I wasn’t expecting that!’ And that can really affect how attractive you find them.
“So we’re just making sure people find each other physically attractive without their clothes on. We’re getting that hurdle out of the way, now let’s see if you’ve got anything in common.”
It might explain why people are still willing to appear on the series, despite even Anna admitting that she initially wondered how the makers would recruit volunteers.
She says: “My first question was ‘Who on earth would go on national television naked on a show?’ But every single person said they were there for similar reasons. Lots of people said they were absolutely sick of online dating, and that they found this incredibly liberating, because they were getting the real person.”
She adds: “Other people just wanted to meet someone who was adventurous, and you can’t get much more adventurous than appearing on a naked TV show! So, if you find someone that you fancy, you already know they’ve got the right spirit for you.”
That last reason may explain why 24-year-olds Matt and Mary from Manchester are taking the plunge.
They have been a couple for four years and are interested in exploring polyamory.
Their aim is to find a third person to add to their relationship, but will they be able to agree on what they are looking for in date?
The edition also introduces us to 20-year-old virgin Josh who is hoping to find his fairy-tale princess. It may not be everyone’s idea of a classic romance, but if he finds her on Naked Attraction, it will definitely be a story to tell the grandchildren – although maybe he shouldn’t show them the video.