Dating Naked UK was dubbed a ‘smash hit’ when it aired in 2024, with plans for it to come back for another run on the streaming service Paramount+ quickly announced.
And with its new series kicking off on Friday, the brave love-seeking hopefuls have finally been revealed.
The reality series – which features 12 singles seeking romance while completely in the buff – is based on a US format that originally aired on VH1.
An insider told the Daily Star when season two was announced: ‘Dating Naked UK has divided opinion and all the controversy has helped make it a smash hit. The ratings have been so high that bosses have commissioned another run before the first one has even finished airing.’
From betting shop worker Kier, 25, and Royal Navy sailor Jarrakeh, 28, to videographer Matt, 32, this year’s contestants are ready to bare all in the pursuit of love.
But another star announced for the show is Essex salesman Luke, who Married at First Sight UK fans will remember from his appearance on the E4 reality show in 2023, where he married Jay Howard during the experiment.
Dating Naked UK is returning for a second series – and the cast includes a controversial MAFS UK star
Essex salesman Luke, who Married at First Sight UK fans will remember from his appearance on the E4 reality show in 2023, where he married Jay Howard
Luke and Jay started out strong but then cracks soon appeared in their romance, before the pair were then kicked off the show following Luke’s bust-up with Jordan Gayle.
However earlier this year, Luke appeared to have had another crack of love as he seemingly popped the big question, only for his romantic gesture to be turned down.
In the snap, taken in front of the Burj Khalifa, Luke was seen getting down on one knee in front of a mystery person, who is completely covered in red heart emojis.
Captioning his post, he wrote: ‘She said no’, alongside a laughing emoji.
The Essex lad’s caption had been edited as he had earlier shared his post on his Instagram stories, where he originally penned: ‘She said yes’.
With his use of the laughing emoji, Luke – who hadn’t been publicly linked to anyone recently – may well have been playing a joke on his fans.
Among the other stars taking to this year’s Dated Naked are Jordan, 30, car dealer Kelsey, 26, waitress Nina, 29, HR manager Amara, 28, trivia host Connor, 27 and waitress Mani, 22.
Dating Naked’s host Rylan previously reflected that part of the show’s appeal is that is a ‘social experiment’ where anything could happen.
From betting shop worker Kier, 25, to Royal Navy sailor Jarrakeh, 28, this year’s contestants are ready to bare all in the pursuit of love
Videographer Matt, from Essex, admitted he is sick of women judging him based on his looks and went celibate before the show
Among the other stars taking to this year’s Dated Naked are Jordan, 30, and car dealer Kelsey, 26
Waitress Nina is from Laos, but grew up in Chichester before moving to Australia 8 years ago
The 35-year-old television presenter told Grazia: ‘Things occur in this series that only occur because they’re all naked. It’s a social experiment as much as it’s a dating show.
‘We didn’t know what was going to happen when we put however many naked people in a house to date. It could have been an orgy from the first day!’
Rylan – who shot to fame on The X Factor before moving into hosting shows like Big Brother’s Bit on The Side and his own BBC Radio 2 show – mused that everyone quickly ‘became so comfortable’ with being starkers.
He said: ‘Something just happened, and I think it’s the fact they were all naked and all different that made them feel confident in that group.
‘They just became so comfortable with each other because they’re all in the same boat. But there is more drama in this show than I thought there would be.
‘There’s one episode where I actually make this noise like I’m possessed because I was so shocked by a decision. It was like being hit round the face with a baseball bat.’
It comes after Rylan defended his new show Dating Naked UK after critics branded it ‘disgraceful’.
During an episode of This Morning earlier this month, Rylan said the show is doing what it is meant to do and that’s showing ‘dating, but laid bare.’
HR manager Amara, 28, has been single for seven years while trivia host Connor, 27, has never had a proper relationship
Waitress Mani, 22, admitted she wasn’t afraid to stir the pot during the show and warnsed fans to be prepared for fireworks
Dating Naked’s host Rylan previously reflected that part of the show’s appeal is that is a ‘social experiment’ where anything could happen
He said it’s like ‘Love Island without the bikinis’ and jibed that the ‘duty of care is like no other show.’
Rylan said: ‘It is Love Island without the bikinis, that’s pretty much what it is, you see everything, there’s no strategic placement of the cameras.’
‘You see absolutely everything, and all the reviews today from the same reviewers that give me five stars for my last show on BBC Two are like “This is disgraceful”.
‘You know “I don’t need to see this” but that’s exactly what the show is and its dating laid bare.’
Joel then asked Rylan if any of the men needed to ‘cool down’ in the pool after getting an erection.
Rylan started to discuss his crew and the levels of care they went to to ensure that the cast was comfortable while filming.
He said: ‘I’ve got to give a serious shoutout, the duty of care on this show was unlike anything I’d seen before.’
‘Our daters were incredible but the crew and the welfare team and everything. I’ve never seen a duty of care around contestants more on any other show.’
