The BBC has confirmed it will axe its LGBTQ+ dating shows I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl, citing funding challenges. The final series of I Kissed A Girl, hosted by Dannii Minogue, will air this summer before the show ends.
Former contestant Amy Spalding, who appeared on I Kissed A Girl in 2024, said she was 'devastated but not surprised' by the decision. She criticised the BBC for sidelining queer stories while 'straight storylines blossom in their thousands', calling it a 'tale as old as time'.
Spalding highlighted the positive impact of the show, saying it provided 'a light at the end of the tunnel' for those struggling with coming out. She argued that representation matters and that axing the show is 'proof of the systemic bias' engulfing the political landscape.
She has urged another broadcaster to pick up the show or for the BBC to reinstate it, and shared a petition demanding the BBC commit dedicated funding for LGBTQ+ content. The petition argues that the BBC has a duty under its Royal Charter to reflect diversity and that representation should not be the first thing cut when budgets are tight.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'We are exceptionally proud of I Kissed A Boy/Girl... Unfortunately, we have to make difficult choices in light of our funding challenges, and there are no current plans for the show to return.'
Dannii Minogue thanked the production team and cast, calling the show 'powerful and important'. She said the final series of I Kissed A Girl will bring 'all the excitement and joy that this show represents'.
