Art & Culture

Married at First Sight is looking for Yorkshire Singles to take part in new series

Applications are now open.

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 17th July 2023

The hit Channel 4 reality show Married at First Sight is on the lookout for contestants to take part in the upcoming series.

If you haven't seen Married at First Sight then firstly, where have you been? And secondly, it's a dating show like no other which is undoubtedly binge-worthy and extremely entertaining.

Based on a dutch series, the concept sees singletons marry complete strangers in a social experiment.

Contestants are matched up with their supposedly 'perfect match', a match which is determined by a group of experts including a spiritualist, a relationship coach and a sociologist.

A woman in a wedding dress and a man in a suit smiling to the camera.
Image: E4

They use “scientific matchmaking methods to determine each couple, who will not have met or had contact with each other until the wedding day”.

Once the contestants are married off, the camera follows them for five weeks to see whether the new relationship is a success or not.

You'll see the highs and lows of the honeymoon followed by the couples moving in together, and trust us when we say it is a real rollercoaster of emotions.

Posting on the Channel 4 website, Married at First Sight are currently asking for new singletons to apply and put their faith in the matchmaking service.

The experts of Married At First Sight smiling to the camera.
Image: E4

Posting a casting call in their ‘Take Part’ section of the site, the advert reads: “We’re looking for brave singles for potential future series of Married at First Sight UK.

“In this unique relationship series about married life, a panel of matchmaking experts will be there to help you find the one.”

So, have you been unlucky in love and are interested in taking part? To apply to the show you must be over 18 years old, live in the UK and feel ready for marriage.

Applications are currently open, and you can apply by the following email: marriedatfirstsight@cplproductions.co.uk.

Read more: Internet stunned at Zayn Malik’s Bradford accent in first interview in six years

Featured image - E4

Art & Culture

“What’s Love Got to Do with It?”: A Story of Survival at Leeds Grand Theatre

Declan Kelly Declan Kelly

An unflinching and empowering portrait of Tina Turner’s life.

Bringing the life of the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll to the stage, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical arrives at the Leeds Grand Theatre with an energy that is both electrifying and deeply affecting. More than just a celebration of Tina Turner’s iconic career, this production offers a powerful portrayal of the hardship she endured and the extraordinary strength it took to overcome it.

While the musical is packed with well-known hits, it is the story behind them that leaves the greatest impact. From her early years to her rise to global stardom, the production lays bare the reality of Tina’s life, particularly the abuse and control she experienced at the hands of Ike.

These moments are handled with care but never softened, forcing the audience to confront the emotional and physical toll of her journey. It is this honesty that gives the show its real power this is not just a story of success, but one of survival.

Image: Supplied

A standout element of the production is the use of a younger Tina to show the early stages of her life and career. These scenes reveal her vulnerability, ambition, and the experiences that shaped her resilience, giving crucial context to her struggles with Ike and making her eventual empowerment all the more powerful. From hopeful, constrained performer to fiercely independent icon, her journey feels earned and deeply moving.

At the heart of the show is Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi, whose portrayal of Tina is nothing short of extraordinary. She captures every facet of the performer from vulnerability to fierce determination allowing the audience to fully experience Tina’s lowest moments as well as her eventual rise.

Image: Supplied

Opposite her, David King-Yombo delivers a chilling performance as Ike, embodying the manipulation and control that defined their relationship. Their dynamic is deeply uncomfortable at times, but essential in highlighting the magnitude of Tina’s resilience.

Equally striking is the musical’s staging and visual storytelling, which mirrors Tina’s emotional journey. Intimate early-life moments and larger-than-life concert sequences are enhanced with lighting, set design, and choreography.

Iconic numbers such as “Disco Inferno,” “Proud Mary,” “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” and “Private Dancer” are brought to life with golden disco balls and soaring spotlights, celebrating her rise while reflecting her transformation from oppression to empowerment. These moments are met with overwhelming audience enthusiasm, making Tina’s struggles and triumphs feel immediate, immersive, and unforgettable.

Image: Supplied

The only area that felt slightly less polished was the stage combat. While the physical tension between Tina and Ike was effective in conveying conflict and control, some of the choreography occasionally felt a little uneven, which momentarily pulled focus from the emotional intensity of those scenes. Even so, these moments were brief and did little to diminish the overall impact of the production. 

By the final moments of the production, Tina prepares once more to take the stage, the narrative comes full circle the show ends the same way it began, with Tina getting ready for her gig. This framing is both thoughtful and powerful, giving the audience a moment to reflect on and celebrate the journey they have just witnessed.

Having experienced her struggles, triumphs, and transformation, the audience is invited to share in the exhilaration of her performance, turning the theatre into a concert-like celebration of resilience, empowerment, and music. As Tina herself, who worked on the production before her passing in 2023, described on opening night, the show is “poison turned into medicine.”

Ultimately, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical is a story of empowerment forged through adversity. For audiences at the Leeds Grand Theatre, this is more than a night at the theatre; it is an emotional, inspiring, and unforgettable tribute to a woman who refused to be defined by her past.

Running until 4 April. Tickets available now here.

Featured image - Supplied

Art & Culture

Adventurous people from Yorkshire needed to take part in next series of BBC’s Race Across the World

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Are you a fan of travelling? Got a bit of a competitive streak in your nature? Well, this might just be your calling then.

The BBC is, once again, casting for the next series of Race Across the World.

The BAFTA-winning hit show draws in thousands of viewers each week, and now producers are on the look-out for ‘intrepid duos’ of all ages who reckon they’re ready to take a step into the unknown, and embark on an epic race across land and sea for the next seried – and that includes Yorkshire residents.

With applications for the next series of the massively-popular show now open, nomadic people from Yorkshire are being encouraged to take part.

On a limited budget and away from the luxuries of modern technology and conveniences, those lucky applicants selected to take part in the next series will get the chance to experience life in some of the world’s most beautiful and remote locations.   

Race Across the World
Adventurous Mancs are needed to take part in the next series of Race Across the World / Credit: BBC

Navigating their way across thousands of miles, they’ll travel through spectacular scenery and dynamic cities, visit ancient wonders, learn local customs, and take part in time-honoured traditions. 

But, as producers are keen to point out, ‘the physical journey is only half of the story’. That’s because, as the contestants take on the challenge of travelling across the world, the greatest thing they’ll discover along the way could actually be about themselves and one another.

Putting out a UK-wide casting call on the BBC website this week, producers Studio Lambert wrote: “We are now accepting applications for the next series of Race Across the World. This experience is open to all, whether you’re a seasoned traveller or total novice.

“We want to hear what undertaking a trip like this would mean to you, and with a cash prize at stake, what lengths you would go to to win.”

    Fancy it then? Applications for the next series of Race Across the World are now open for anyone over 18 years of age, with a deadline date of 29 March 2026, and you can find out more information and apply via the BBC website.

    Stick your application form in here.

    Read more: Train ticket prices slashed by over 50% as huge rail sale returns across UK

    Featured Image – BBC

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