The production of a reality TV show hosted by Davina McCall has reportedly been put on hold.
My Mum, Your Dad, a dating show for single parents that first aired just two years ago, is rumoured to have been temporarily shelved by ITV due to a lack of suitable middle-aged fathers. The new series was expected to begin filming later this year.
ITV has allegedly decided to “park” the show for now, in hopes of attracting more suitable applicants. This news comes only four months after the second series aired in September last year, following the debut series in 2023.
A source told the Sun about the challenges faced during the casting process: “Strangely there were lots of stunning women in the 45 to 65 bracket who wanted to take part, but a sad dearth of men who fitted the bill.”
They added that the same issue arose during the production of the second series of My Mum, Your Dad, but producers “just about managed” to find enough suitable candidates at that time, reports the Mirror.
However, finding suitable participants for a potential third series proved too challenging. The source explained: “But when it came to the third outing they realised it was just going to be too difficult, and decided taking a break might be the best option.”
An ITV spokesperson has spoken out about the future of the show My Mum, Your Dad, stating that despite its success and “fantastic audience response”, there will not be a new series in 2025 due to other commitments.
Speaking to The Sun, they said: “There are currently no plans for a new series in 2025 owing to other priorities in our schedule, but we may revisit the show at some point beyond that.”
Since its launch on ITV and the streaming service ITVX in September 2023, with Davina McCall, aged 57, at the helm, My Mum, Your Dad has captured the hearts of viewers. The reality programme features a selection of single parents, set up by their children, staying together at a countryside retreat in hopes of finding new connections.
The original run consisted of ten episodes spread over two weeks on ITV.
The show, often likened to Love Island, came back for its second outing in West Sussex, featuring a fresh batch of parents ready for romance. Like its predecessor, this series delivered ten episodes filled with potential love stories, each spanning a fortnight.
My Mum, Your Dad is available to watch on ITVX