Maura Higgins has been announced as the new host of the Blind Date reboot, set to air on Disney Plus. The former Love Island star will take over the role originally played by the late Cilla Black, who hosted the show from its debut in 1985 until 2003.
Higgins shared what she described as "sweet signs from the universe" on her Instagram Stories following the announcement. She posted a photo of herself on a large TRESemmé Haircare billboard, with a row of pictures of famous faces below it, including an image of Cilla Black smiling in the middle of the second row.
A Message from the Universe
Writing over the image, Higgins said: "The universe works in the craziest ways. I already knew I was going to be the new host of Blind Date when this billboard went up months ago, which made seeing Cilla’s face right underneath mine feel even more surreal."
In a second slide, she shared a photo from a shop where a post-it note on the cashier’s desk read "blind date." She added: "And then YESTERDAY, of all days, I randomly walk into a bookshop and see this. Sometimes the universe sends you the sweetest little signs."
Cilla Black's Legacy
Cilla Black hosted Blind Date from 1985 to 2003, with the show attracting up to 17 million viewers on Saturday nights before it was axed by ITV. She died in 2015 at the age of 72.
At the time of her departure, Black said she wanted to leave before the show became "a chore." She explained: "Over New Year I thought a lot about what I wanted to do in 2003, and decided that it was the right time to move on from Blind Date. All good things come to an end and the show deserves to finish on a high and be remembered as a success."
Paul Jackson, the director of entertainment at Granada at the time, said: "This has been entirely Cilla's decision and we completely respect her for it. We would like to thank Cilla for giving us 18 fantastic years."
Reboot Details
Disney Plus is planning to air the reboot in 2027, with filming scheduled to begin this year. The new series will keep the classic format, but once the daters have coupled up, they will spend the summer together in a show switch-up.
