The ABC is suiting up and stepping out with Better Date Than Never, a dating show from the creators of Love On The Spectrum.
The show sees a handful of people who have never been on a date before – or not since a major change in their life – take the plunge into the dating pool.
With a little help from the producers, the participants launch themselves into a world they’ve always wanted to explore. They are matched with a potential suitor, and ready themselves to meet them on a blind date. Audiences are with them as they kick off their dating lives, for better or for worse.
Mediaweek spoke to Better Date Than Never EP Cian O’Clery ahead of the show’s premiere on January 24th at 8pm on ABC and ABC iview.
Cian O’Clery
Can you tell us a bit about how Better Date Than Never came to be?
“It just came to me one day – I thought one day out of the blue that it would be a really nice way to create another dating series that was very real and truthful. I thought a really nice way in would be people going on their first date, it just seemed so simple and clean. I thought ‘I wonder why no one’s done it before?’.
“We went from there. We pitched it to the ABC, and luckily they were responsive, which was great. We’re lucky to have public broadcasters in Australia, is all I can say.”
Each participant has a unique story to tell. What were you looking for when you were casting?
“The most important thing we looked for is people who are lovely and engaging, and people that we like and want to get to know. Also, obviously, people who either hadn’t dated or hadn’t dated since a major change in their life.
“We put the call out in all sorts of different communities and in different places, but we weren’t really being specific about what character types we wanted – it was more like ‘let’s just put the word out as far and wide as we can and see who comes in and go from there’. Interestingly, Charles and Olivia both came really early in the process.
“When you make a new series, it’s always interesting how you tackle finding participants, especially for something like this. This is obviously not the kind of show where you hire a casting agency that works on dating shows. We just tried to spread the word as far and wide as we could.”
The show has been promoted with the line ‘from the makers of Love On The Spectrum.’ How much inspiration did you take from Love On The Spectrum when putting this series together?
“The style and tone of the series is similar in that it’s a character-led series that’s also about dating. It’s a tone and style that myself and Northern Pictures have developed over time.
“It’s the kind of storytelling that we think works. Hopefully, people are really caring and getting to know our participants really well, and wanting them to succeed. We’re not looking for people that can be villains or will get into fights with people.”
First dates are daunting for anyone, let alone on national TV. How do you walk that line between letting people go ahead and figure it out, while also giving them a hand when they need it?
“Whatever feels right at the time. We have our particular protocols in place in terms of looking after the participants and making sure everybody feels comfortable, but apart from that, it’s really just going with what feels right.
“We let people know from really early on that we’re filming the series on their terms, not on our terms. Anytime they feel uncomfortable or want to step away, they’re very welcome to do so. They can always talk to me, they can always tap out if they want. We just want to try and make sure they all understand that.
“Everyone who’s part of the series really wanted to be a part of it and embraced the experience, despite how daunting it was for some of them.”
What do you hope the audience gets out of Better Date Than Never?
“I think each person, depending on where they’re at in life, will get different things. Each person’s story gives something different – in some stories people can really learn something about what it means to be a part of a community, but then for other people’s stories, maybe you just have a good time and enjoy their journey, and for other people maybe you maybe develop a bit more empathy yourself in terms of your own experience with dating or meeting people.
“These people that we have ended up filming are such kind, sweet, nice people. For me, it actually makes me want to be a better person if I’m dating or just nicer in general, really.
“I think we need more good people on TV. Not everything has to always be full of mean narcissists. I’m not generalising about all dating shows, but it’s nice to have balance and to have something else. It’s something different.”