“You can take us off the TV, you can take away our queer spaces, but we’re still here,” says dating show contestant Faye.
The 24-year-old from Warrington is one of 10 singles appearing on the final series of BBC LGBT dating show I Kissed a Girl.
The show returned this week for its second series, which is also its final outing after the BBC’s decision to shelve the programme.
But its cast members tell BBC Newsbeat they are determined not to let the show’s cancellation overshadow the impact it has had.
The all-male version of the show, I Kissed a Boy, first aired on BBC Three in 2023 and made history as the UK’s first gay dating show.
A year later, the show’s production company, Twofour, launched an all-women series, called I Kissed a Girl, before switching back to an all-male cast in 2025.
I Kissed a Girl, in particular, has been praised by fans for its “wholesome” vibe, in contrast to shows such as Love Island and Married at First Sight which have faced scandals surrounding their duty of care to contestants.
BBC bosses blamed “funding challenges” for the “difficult” decision to stop the I Kissed a… shows, but said they were “exceptionally proud” of them.
“It’s a shame,” says Nikita.
The 24-year-old from Leeds says she joined the show to find a stronger sense of community and “find her person”.
“It is such a shame that the show’s been cancelled but I’m just so grateful that we all got to have this experience and we get to be that representation on the screen, especially because I’m of Indian heritage.
“I just think it’s so important to be that representation.”
Hosted by pop star Dannii Minogue, the show sees 10 contestants brought together in a sun-soaked villa and, as the title suggests, introduced with a kiss.
With no small talk or messages beforehand, cast members on both the men and women’s versions were encouraged to give their new relationships a shot – with lots of twists and turns along the way.
The couples participate in regular “kiss offs” where they decide if they want to remain with their partner or explore a new connection.
Those who are not kissed are sent home.
