Host O’Grady says it wouldn’t happen on Beeb BBC too Blind Dated’ for gays
PAU PAUL O’Grady has taken a swipe at the BBC, claiming the broadcaster would never allow gay people on Blind Date.
The TV favourite is hosting a reboot of the iconic dating show, once fronted by his good pal Cilla Black.
Originally an ITV programme, it has found a new home on Channel 5, and this time around is including some samesex couples.
Paul, 62, reckons the move is “brave”. He said: “Channel 5, they’re right up for it – they were insistent on it, in fact. Because we’ve moved on. It’s 2017 – you’ve got to educate people.
“It’s no longer boy meets girl. It’s boy meets boy, girl meets girl, boy meets whoever, whatever floats your boat.
“You have to acknowledge that. You can’t just have same old, same old. I think it’s really brave of them to make this step, ’ cos the others wouldn’t.
“Imagine the BBC? It wouldn’t happen, it just wouldn’t happen.”
Explaining the format, Paul told Gay Times magazine: “It’s done as a normal date. I don’t say, ‘And now we’re going to meet our next contestants who are gay’. If you don’t like it, turn over. That’s my attitude. That’s always been my bloody attitude. If you don’t like it, sod off. Sorry, I’m not changing it or toning it down for you.”
A spokesperson for charity Stonewall, which campaigns for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, said: “It’s great that Blind Date will now include same-sex couples. “We’re always keen to see better LGBT representation on screen, and we hope that this could even lead to wedding bells and a new hat for Paul!”
While Paul claims the BBC would not entertain gay people on Blind Date, the broadcaster has done a lot to promote the LBGT community.
This year BBC Three launched a new programme, Queer Britain, shining a light on the challenges faced by the group.
A TV source said: “Blind Date was never a BBC show. Paul is talking about the BBC
of years ago, not of today.”