Dannii Minogue, host of BBC Three's I Kissed a Girl (IKAG), has spoken of her 'devastating sadness' as the queer reality dating series concludes after three seasons. The show, which premiered in 2023 as the first British gay dating show, was cancelled by the broadcaster due to 'funding challenges'. Minogue, 54, admitted she thought the series would inspire more LGBTQ+ dating shows, but the reality landscape has not moved in that direction.
A Groundbreaking Concept Comes to an End
I Kissed a Girl and its predecessor I Kissed a Boy were pioneering in their format: contestants were paired up in the first episode and their first interaction was a kiss, bypassing small talk entirely. Minogue recalled 'gasping' when first introduced to the idea, noting its powerful on-screen effect as strangers walked towards each other to lock lips on introduction. The show aired on BBC Three and was produced by Twofour.
Despite its cancellation, Minogue remains focused on the joy the show brought. 'There's one half of me that is just like: "What we really need to focus on is the joy in the show", which has been there since season one,' she said. 'And queer joy being seen is such a defiant act.' She noted that the crew, many of whom were part of the LGBTQ+ community, felt a deep connection to the project, with conversations like, 'Wow, I never had this growing up.'
Disappointment in Lack of Progress
Minogue expressed disappointment that the show did not pave the way for more queer reality TV. 'Our initial idea was we were going to make this show, and hopefully open a doorway so that other shows for this community could start appearing,' she explained. 'And it seems like the reality space is not moving in the way that we thought that it would. We thought we would be in amongst a lot of competition by now.'
While Love Island UK is currently on its 13th season, gay dating shows remain scarce. Netflix's The Boyfriend aired a second season in 2026, but The Ultimatum: Queer Love was cancelled in 2025 after two seasons. Aside from occasional same-sex relationships on heteronormative shows, queer representation in the dating show genre is limited, especially for women.
Hope for a 'Forever Home'
Minogue is hopeful that I Kissed a Girl will find a new platform. 'We won't stop until we see it,' she declared. 'There are conversations happening,' she told Metro, though she added that the next few weeks will be telling as potential buyers assess the show's reception. The loyal fanbase has rallied, with viewing parties and repeated streaming to boost figures. Minogue noted that the first episodes coincided with an England World Cup match, prompting fans to watch again later to ensure ratings stayed strong.
A Message of Hope for Pride
Asked about her message for the queer community during Pride month, Minogue said: 'Hope is such a powerful thing.' She emphasised 'really connecting with other people that are like-minded, to see how we can actively make a difference.' She added: 'That's the biggest take [away] for me this Pride month compared to previous ones, is how you can be creative with celebrating, even if something has been taken away from you.'
Minogue, along with her sister Kylie, 58, has long been a gay icon. She said Kylie 'absolutely loves' the show and that they share social media posts and fan reactions in a sibling chat. Minogue also spoke of her 16-year-old son, noting that while he is younger than the cast, she admires their confidence and freedom. 'The way they move and interact and talk and their freedom and how confident they are – I love being around that because it's such a great energy,' she said.
I Kissed a Girl is available to watch on BBC iPlayer, with new episodes airing Tuesdays.
