Dannii Minogue, host of BBC Three's I Kissed a Girl (IKAG), is grappling with the end of the queer reality series, which concluded its final season in 2026 due to funding challenges. The show, which premiered in 2023 as the UK's first gay dating show (starting with I Kissed a Boy), paired contestants with a blind kiss upon introduction—a concept Minogue initially found shocking but powerful.
Disappointment in Lack of Progress
Minogue, speaking from Melbourne, Australia, admitted she thought the show would inspire more LGBTQ dating programs. '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 said. '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.' Despite 13 seasons of Love Island UK, queer 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.
Joy and Community Amid Cancellation
Minogue emphasized 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. And queer joy being seen is such a defiant act.' She noted the crew, many from the LGBT community, felt the impact: 'And all their conversations like, "Wow, I never had this growing up."' The show's fanbase organized viewing parties and streamed episodes multiple times to boost figures, especially as early episodes coincided with an England World Cup match.
Hope for a New Home
While the BBC is not continuing the Twofour production, Minogue is hopeful it will find a 'forever home.' She stated, 'We won't stop until we see it,' adding, 'There are conversations happening.' However, she noted the next few weeks will be telling as potential buyers gauge reception. Minogue, 54, and her sister Kylie, 58, have long been gay icons; Kylie 'absolutely loves' the show, and Dannii shares social media posts with her siblings. Reflecting on the young cast, she said, '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.'
Message to the Queer Community
For Pride month, Minogue urged: 'Hope is such a powerful thing. Really connecting with other people that are like-minded, to see how we can actively make a difference. That's the biggest take 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.' I Kissed a Girl is available on BBC iPlayer, with new episodes airing Tuesdays.
