The BBC is currently casting for a brand new reality dating show similar to Love Island, and us Yorkshire lot are being encouraged to apply.
Those of us who are unlucky in love, that is.
You may have seen this week that ITV has released the long-awaited lineup of famous faces set to head into the Love Island villa for the second ‘All Stars’ series starting next week, but for those regular folk on the look-out for that special someone to spend the rest of their lives with, the BBC and its newest series has got you covered.
If marriage is your end goal, this new show takes care of that sooner rather than later, as singles get matched up and married pretty much as soon as their journey starts.
From the creators of Married at First Sight, and set to be titled ‘Stranded on Honeymoon Island’, casting directors are calling on single people who are ready to “find their perfect match in paradise” to apply.
Image: BBC
Anyone thinking of sticking an application in just need to be 18 years of age or over, and have the right to live and work in the UK, as well as being open to getting ‘married’ on TV too, of course.
A casting call on the BBC website reads: “Are you single, unlucky in love, and ready to find your perfect match in paradise? The series will see 12 unlucky-in-love singles get matched up and married, before being marooned on a tropical island, to see if true love will blossom and survive…or dive?.”
Produced for the BBC by CPL Productions, no release date for Stranded on Honeymoon Island has been revealed yet, but filming is expected to take place this year.
Applications are now live, and you have until 28 February to pop your name down
Fancy it then? Find out more and apply on the BBC website here.
Nestled in Armley, Assembly House is an independent creative hub bringing artists together.
Assembly House, based on Canal Road in Armley inside a historic Victorian mill, has become a home for creatives across Leeds since launching in 2013.
The artist-led organisation combines working studios with an independent gallery and project space, hosting everything from exhibitions and workshops to community events and live music.
The space is currently home to 80 creatives who make up their community, comprising of professional practitioners including educators, performers, painters, sculptors, illustrators, video artists and designers.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their aim is simple - to offer affordable studios to emerging artists alongside technical support, producing support along with access to workshops, internal film screenings and events.
Assembly House offer a yearly program of exhibitions designed to showcase the studio holders and get their work out there. It's all aimed at helping the artists, whether it's their first show or tenth.
It has also helped bring art into the wider neighbourhood through community murals, public sculptures and activities for local people.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
They believe art has the power to bring people together and to evoke emotion and thought, and we've got to say that we absolutely agree.
The space can also be hired by students and independent creatives looking to put on their own exhibitions or bring a project to life.
The fabulous venue is generally open to visitors during exhibitions, workshops and events, with visits by appointment at other times, so it's worth checking its website before heading over.
To have a look at their current programme and to find out more about what Assembly House are doing for Leeds and the community, you can take a look at their website here.
Leeds Palestinian Film Festival announces dates for 12th annual edition
Clementine Hall
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has announced the dates for this year's festival.
This year's festival will explore the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour: "To make art is to say we are here."
These words will reflect the content of this year's festival, which aim to keep Palestinian stories alive; defy the erasure of history; and bring voices from the depths of destruction.
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival will open Friday 13 November at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House with Life Support, a documentary about doctors in Gaza directed by Daniele Rugo.
Image: Supplied
The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the director and doctors from the film, chaired by Healthworkers4Palestine.
Early programme highlights include the UK premiere of Conversation with the Sea, Muayad Alayan's family drama in which a 60-year-old Palestinian man in Jerusalem, ordered by an Israeli court to pay a debt allegedly owed by his son who drowned decades ago, sets out to discover what happened.
Also showing will be Maggie Lemere's documentary, Land of Canaan, follows Palestinian farmers and their olive trees, some more than 1,000 years old, and the fair-trade movement led by Dr Nasser Abufarha to protect them.
Image: Supplied
Frances Bernstein, Festival Director, said: “To make art is to say we are here. We chose the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour as this year's theme because they reflect what the programme is for: keeping Palestinian stories alive, defying the erasure of Palestinian history, culture and identity, and bringing voices from the depth of destruction to audiences in Leeds."
The full programme, guests and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. You can find out more here.
Emily Sergeant -
10th January 2025 
