Take Me Out (UK game show)

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Take Me Out
250px
Genre Game show
Presented by Paddy McGuinness
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 7
No. of episodes 73 (as of 9 January 2016)
Production
Production location(s) Granada Studios (2010)
The Maidstone Studios (2010—)
Running time 60–90 mins (inc. adverts)
Production company(s) Talkback Thames (2010–12)
Thames (2012–)
Distributor FremantleMedia
Release
Original network ITV
Picture format 16:9 (HDTV)
Audio format Stereo
Original release 2 January 2010 (2010-01-02) –
present
Chronology
Related shows Take Me Out: The Gossip
The Love Machine
Blind Date
External links
Website

Take Me Out is a British dating game show presented by comedian Paddy McGuinness. Based on the Australian show Taken Out, it began airing on ITV in the United Kingdom and simulcast on TV3 in the Republic of Ireland on 2 January 2010. A pilot episode was for Channel 4 in 2009, but it was ITV who picked it up for a series. The show is produced by Thames (formerly Talkback Thames).

The first series was recorded at Granada Studios in Manchester, but has since been recorded at The Maidstone Studios in Maidstone, Kent, as it offered increased space and capacity for audience members.[1] A Christmas celebrity special aired on 15 December 2012, featuring Matt Johnson, Keith Lemon and Joe Swash[2] and on 20 December 2013, another special aired as part of Text Santa, featuring 30 women over 50 trying to score a date with one man over 50.[3]

In 2012, the show introduced a spin-off show entitiled Take Me Out: The Gossip, which aired on ITV2 and was co-hosted by Zoe Hardman and Mark Wright in 2012 and Wright alongside Laura Jackson in 2014.[4] The show did not air in 2013.

Format

The objective of the show is for a single man to obtain a date with one of thirty single women. The women stand on stage underneath thirty white lights, each with a button in front of them. A single man is then brought down on stage via the 'Love Lift' and tries to persuade the women to agree to this date in a series of rounds, playing a pre-recorded video discussing his background, displaying a skill (such as dancing or playing a musical instrument), or playing another video in which the man's friends or family reveal more about his virtues and philosophy.

At any point during the rounds, the women can press the button in front of them to turn off their light if they do not believe a date with this man would be constructive to their well-being and if this occurs, their area of the stage will turn red. If, at the end of three rounds, there are still lights left on, the bachelor will turn off all but two of the remaining lights himself. He will then have a chance to ask one question to the last two women, before choosing which woman he wants to go on the date with by turning off one more light. If the man is left with two lights at the end of round 3, he will just ask his question to the two remaining women and if there is only one light left at the end of round 3, he will go on the date with that girl without asking her his question. There are usually four men brought on in the course of a single episode, though on some occasions segments have been cut and only three men have been shown.

If all the women turn off their lights before the end of the third round - this is referred to as a "blackout" - then the man must leave the show without going on a date, accompanied by the Céline Dion version of the hit Eric Carmen song "All by Myself". In the first series, the successful couples conducted their date at FERNANDO'S! in Manchester, which is actually Club Bijou on Chapel Street, the outcome of which is shown as part of the following week's show. For the second series, the date took place abroad on the Isle of FERNANDO'S!, a fictional location based in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife.[5] From the third series onwards, the date takes place in Cyprus. Successful couples leave the programme upstairs on the opposite side of the studio to the 'Love Lift', and a song, usually from the latin pop genre, will be played.[6]

Comedic value is mostly provided by McGuinness's array of catchphrases such as "Let the (object) see the (object)", "No likey, no lighty!", "If you're turned off, turn off", "If he's not Mr Right, turn off your light", "Get out there, turn one girl off and take one girl out!", "Come and get some Paddy love!", "The isle of...FERNANDO'S!".

Round 1

In this round the man comes down the love lift. He meets the girls and then says his name and where he is from. Paddy repeats but afterwards with one of catchphrases. Then the girls can turn off their light. After the round, in series 7 they had to write down a love at first light from the girls remaining.

Round 2

This includes a pre-recorded video presented by the man. It sometimes includes interviews with his friends and family. It describes his personality and what they do. At any point the girls can turn off their light

Round 3

In this round the man shows a skill in the studio. Alternately their friend or family can say a secret. At any point the girl can turn off their light.

Round 4

In this round the men turns off all the lights except 2 decided by himself. At the start of the round paddy says " The power is in your hands " and pulls his hand down. Not every man does this round and some skip straight to round 5.

Round 5

In this round the man asks the girls who are remaining a question. If 2 or 1 girl/s was left from round 3 then the man can choose a mysterious girl to take on a date. This is decided by the sound of her voice. The man then turns off the light of one girl. Then they meet, go up the big stairs opposite the love lift and have a backstage interview.

Take Me Out: The Gossip

Take Me Out: The Gossip is a behind-the-scenes sister show that began airing weekly on ITV2 from series 3-5 and 7 onwards, following the broadcast of the main programme. It is currently presented by Laura Jackson and Mark Wright.[7] Zoe Hardman previously hosted the show with Wright. A similar format, previously broadcast online, featuring backstage gossip and interviews with the contestants, was regularly made available on itv.com just hours after the broadcast of the main programme.

Transmissions

Original series

Series Start date End date Episodes
1
2 January 2010
20 February 2010
8
2
11 December 2010
19 March 2011
14
3
7 January 2012
7 April 2012
14
4
6 October 2012
1 December 2012
9
5
5 January 2013
23 February 2013
8
6
4 January 2014
22 February 2014
8
7
3 January 2015
7 March 2015
10
8
2 January 2016[8]
5 March 2016
10

Specials

Date Entitle
15 December 2012
Celebrity Christmas Special
20 December 2013
Over 50s Text Santa Special

Episodes and ratings

Episode viewing figures from BARB.[9]

Series 1

# Airdate No. of couples First couple Second couple Third couple Fourth couple Viewers (millions) ITV weekly ranking
1
2 January 2010
3
Jim and Caroline
N/A
Rob and Jo-Jo
Adam and Charlene
3.87
22
2
9 January 2010
3
Joel (n/a)
Ibrahim and Maria
Alan and Lia-Jay
Oliver and Louisa
4.72
29
3
16 January 2010
4
Adam and Nicola
David and Georgee
Oliver and June
Tony and Jamie
4.74
18
4
23 January 2010
4
Tom and Cally
James and Emmaline
Boyd and Lindsey
Stefano and Joanne
4.92
20
5
30 January 2010
3
Jamie and Kelly
N/A
Stefan and Becka
James and Laura
4.87
20
6
6 February 2010
3
Jonathan and Helen
Nathan and Shakira
N/A
Darren and Josephine
5.42
19
7
13 February 2010
3
Arton and Crystal
James and Claire-Louise
N/A
Sammy and Nat
4.71
19
8
20 February 2010
3
Jack and Emily
N/A
Ben and Daisy
5.39
17

Series 2

# Airdate No. of couples 1st couple 2nd couple 3rd couple 4th couple Viewers (millions) ITV weekly ranking
1
11 December 2010
3
Danny and Vicky
N/A
Alistair and Alisha
Iain and Fern
5.96
18
2
18 December 2010
3
James (n/a)
Dan and Alice
Samson and Amy
Silky and Holly-Jade
5.10
14
3
1 January 2011
3
Stuart and Pegah
Fabian and Kay
Darren and Laura
Kristen (n/a)
Under 3.05
Outside top 30
4
8 January 2011
4
Scott and Kieney
John and Lisa
Chi and Cheryl
David and Donna
3.98
29
5
15 January 2011
3
Harry and Joanne
David (n/a)
Richie and Tasha
Gary and Elle
4.27
23
6
22 January 2011
4
Brett and Viv
Ian and Becky
James and Abi-Scarlett
Rob and Tanya
4.44
18
7
29 January 2011
4
John and Kerry
Tez and Kayleigh
Dan and Dawn
Jake and Sami
4.29
18
8
5 February 2011
3
Dean and Maria
Rick and Megan
Robbie (n/a)
Richard and Jacqui
4.28
19
9
12 February 2011
3
Sam and Claire
Charles and Carol
Simon and Natalie
Stephen (n/a)
4.74
18
10
19 February 2011
3
Ryan and Luissa
Neil (n/a)
Dan and Krista
Dean and Jo-Jo
4.42
19
11
26 February 2011
4
Frankie and Nicole
Riccardo and Vikki
Michael and Julie
Sonny and Samantha H
4.82
18
12
5 March 2011
4
Dave and Lucy
Adam and Katie
Chris and Kate
Michael and Adele
5.03
17
13
12 March 2011
4
Anthony and Ellie
Matt and Samantha
Andrew and Peggy
Dan and Lauren
4.89
20
14
19 March 2011
4
Dan and Nicola
John and Holly
Bobby and Jennifer
James and Marysia
5.50
14

Series 3

# Air date No. of couples 1st couple 2nd couple 3rd couple 4th couple Viewers (millions) ITV weekly ranking
1
7 January 2012
3
Ben and Joanna
George (n/a)
Aaron and Wen1
Adam and Mimi
4.93
16
2
14 January 2012
3
Oli (n/a)
Marty and Bianca
Jermaine and Roxi
Jack and Lizz
4.94
17
3
21 January 2012
4
Ollie and Emily
Danny and Katy
Tom and Abi
Ben and Ashleigh
4.68
17
4
28 January 2012
4
Tony and Sophia
Norman and Steph
Fabio and Carrie
Bobby and Bainsey
4.52
20
5
4 February 2012
4
Andy and Grace
Francis and Cate
Jake and Holly
Damion and Chelsea614
4.95
18
6
11 February 2012
22
Amar (n/a)
Olly and Mollie
Will (n/a)
Ross and Ciara
5.47
16
7
18 February 2012
3
Liam and Lucy
James and Fleur
Ben and Steph
Judi and Mike3
4.92
15
8
25 February 2012
3
Lee and Toni
Whyte (n/a)
Charlie and Danielle
John and Bec
5.15
18
9
3 March 2012
3
Michael and Sophie
Paul (n/a)
Ekene and Chloe
Ollie and Natacha
4.79
19
10
10 March 2012
3
Ben and Jude
Charles and Stephanie
Renny and Charlotte
Rory and Jade A4
4.47
19
11
17 March 2012
4
Mikey and Jamie
Jit and Gracie
Kenny and Becca
Billy and Emma
4.94
17
12
24 March 2012
4
Greg and Jo
Bambos and Katie
Matt and Fiona
Jarvis and Hannah5
4.71
18
13
31 March 2012
3
Lee (n/a)
Doug and Steph
Luke and Cony
Rob and Annie
4.58
16
14
7 April 2012
4
Tony and Lisa
Oba and Kirsten
Dave and Daniella14
David and Lucy7
4.28
17

Notes

  • ^Note 1 : The date segment of contestant Wen scoring a date with freelance journalist Aaron was axed from the programme after it transpired that Aaron had a criminal conviction for punching a woman, had worked as a male escort, and also had a long-term girlfriend; and that Wen was in fact a prostitute for a short period.[10]
  • ^Note 2 : Two blackouts occurred in one programme, becoming the first time this had ever occurred on the show.
  • ^Note 3 : The studio segment of contestant Judi scoring a date with builder Mike was axed from the programme, after it transpired that Mike was known to the police as a suspected sex offender. Judi did not return to the show.
  • ^Note 4 : The studio segment of contestant Jade scoring a date with banker Rory was axed from the programme, after it transpired that Rory was serving a suspended sentence for common assault. Jade did not return to the show.
  • ^Note 5 : The studio segment of contestant Hannah scoring a date with musician & semi-professional footballer Jarvis was axed from the programme, after it transpired that Jarvis had served a 12-month community order for assaulting a man in 2009. There was also an allegation that Jarvis had approached an under-age girl for sex (unconfirmed). Hannah did not return to the show.[11]
  • ^Note 6 : Chelsea revealed on the 7 April episode of Take Me Out: The Gossip that she and Ben, the first contestant of the series, were getting married.
  • ^Note 7 : David set a record for having the highest number of girls left in the final round in the third series, with 27 leaving their light on after round three. Amy Childs also later went on to date David.

Series 4

Key:

     – Successful dates
# Air date No. of couples 1st couple 2nd couple 3rd couple 4th couple Viewers (millions) ITV weekly ranking
1
6 October 2012
2
Leigh and Chloe-Marie
Drew (n/a)
Dyneal and Lily
James (n/a)
3.25
25
2
13 October 2012
4
Paul and Chanelle
Ben (n/a)8
Chris and Nadia
Will and Oli
Henry and Meggan9
3.35
23
3
20 October 2012
4
Ryan and Jordan
Yinka and Jo10
Chad and Fleur
Jonny and Ruby
3.23
27
4
27 October 2012
3
Ed and Lucy
Robin and Jamilah
Wez 16
Sam and Natalie
3.70
19
5
3 November 2012
3
Myko (n/a)11
Chris and Ella
Amar and Charlotte
Chiles and Ruth
Under 3.04
Outside top 30
6
10 November 2012
3
Jase and Dannika12
Jim (The Beatboxer) and Erica
Marco and Jo
Darrell (n/a)
Under 3.08
Outside top 30
7
17 November 2012
4
Matt and Leah
Pete and Katie
Sam and Samantha
Luke and Rachel
3.06
28
8
24 November 2012
4
Giles and Anglea
Dan and Kate
Hugh and Emily
Joe and Edelle
Under 3.10
Outside top 30
9
1 December 2012
3
Micky and Danielle
George and Emma
Iain (n/a)
Jordan and Victoria13
Under 3.09
Outside top 30
1015[12]
15 December 2012
3
Joe and Lois16
Matt and Natalie
Keith and Piri
n/a
4.04
14

Notes

  • ^Note 8 : Ben was the only contestant this series to receive a blackout on the second round (as opposed to the third and final round).
  • ^Note 9 : Will and Henry became the first pair of twins to come down the love lift, and go on a double date with their chosen dates.
  • ^Note 10 : In the final round, Yinka let his little brother, Jono, choose which of the two girls he should pick out of all of the remaining lights.
  • ^Note 11 : Despite the fact that Myko got a blackout, he later began dating Erica (who originally got a date with Jim from episode 6). Erica admitted that she regretted turning her light off for him.
  • ^Note 12 : Jase set a record (at the time) for having the highest number of ladies left in the final round in the fourth series, with 23 girls leaving their light on after round three.
  • ^Note 13 : Jordan became the first contestant in the history of Take Me Out to still have all 30 girls with their lights on in the final round.
  • ^Note 14 : Damion and Daniella returned to Take Me Out: The Gossip in October, and revealed that they were getting married.

Series 5

Key:

     – Successful dates
# Air date No. of couples 1st couple 2nd couple 3rd couple 4th couple Viewers (millions) ITV weekly ranking
1
5 January 2013
3
Ben and Lily
Param (n/a)
Adam and Lucy-May
Jason and Jo
4.13
18
2
12 January 2013
3
Sam and Georgia
Will (n/a)
Dan and Danni
Troy and Naomi
4.38
19
3
19 January 2013
3
Adam (n/a)
Stephen and Bianca
Callum and Nikita
Darren and Daisy
4.47
19
4
26 January 2013
4
Matt and Megan
Chris and Kate
Will and Thuy
Morakinyo and Claire
3.97
21
5
2 February 2013
4
Stuart and Robyn
Sen and Jade
Russell and Miki
Gavin and Gemma
4.01
19
6
9 February 2013
4
Chris and Janet
Ashley and Rach
James and Daniella
David and George
3.58
21
7
16 February 2013
3
Joe and Julia
Matt and Charlotte
Glenn and Alanna
Owen (n/a)
3.80
16
8
23 February 2013
4
Tom and Naomi
Henry and Rachel
Ben and Emma
Joe and Chloe
4.13
21

Series 6

Key:

     – Successful dates
# Air date No. of couples 1st couple 2nd couple 3rd couple 4th couple Viewers
(millions)
ITV weekly ranking
1
4 January 2014
4
Adam and Lianne
Jason and Lisa
Ellison and Coryn
Sam and Sadie
4.03
20
2
11 January 2014
2
Grant (n/a)
Gavin and Sharon
Baffoe (n/a)
Fergus and Dolly
4.05
19
3
18 January 2014
4
Ryan and Chloe
Damon and Katie
Travis and Nicole
James and Colette
3.92
19
4
25 January 2014
4
Lew and Amanda
Oscar and Lici
Adam and Stacey
Danny and Jodie
3.69
21
5
1 February 2014
3
Jay and Marley
Frankie and Natasha
Paul (n/a)
Ashley and Georgia
3.31
26
6
8 February 2014
3
Ed and Jenny
Richard (n/a)
Arry and Gemma
Aran and Bethany
3.20
25
7
15 February 2014
4
Andrew and Amy
Mikey and Kate
Josh and Olivia
Paul and Lily-Mae
3.30
28
8
22 February 2014
4
Michael and Clarissa
Jason and Sophie
David and Zoe
Vincent and Kayleigh
3.64
19
Girls from Series 6
Name Age Location Occupation
Amanda 26 Barnsley Support Worker
Amber 19 Bristol Dinner Lady
Bethany 19 Coventry Media & Journalism Student
Chloe 22 The Wirral Call Centre Worker
Coryn 18 Liverpool Trainee Dental Nurse
Danielle 22 Isle of Wight Customer Services Advisor
Dolly 21 Brighton Globalisation History & Politics Student
Eleni 20 Wirral Wedding Videographer
Emily 25 Fulham Classical Singer
Gemma 22 Leeds Trainee Accountant & Face Printer
Grace 21 Barnsley Trainee Teacher
Kate 30 Liverpool Flight Attendant
Kayleigh 23 Sheffield Accounts Student & Farmer
Kelly 27 Newcastle Online Boutique Owner
Kirsty 29 Birmingham Client Relationship Manager for a Pensions Company
Laura 24 Manchester Sales Assistant
Leanne 21 Leeds Law Student
Lee 19 Essex Physiotherapist
Lisa-Marie 30 Brighton Psychic & Life Coach
Lucy 20 Essex Hairstylist
Marley 18 Guildford Make-Up Artist
Michelle 21 Sunderland Accountant
Nicole 22 Leeds P.E. Teacher
Nina 22 Aberdeen Cocktail Waitress & Psychology Student
Olivia 19 Surrey Voice Over Artist
Poly 29 London Beauty Model & Speech Therapist
Sadie 20 Kingston Dance Student
Sharon 32 Glasgow Casino Croupier
Siobhan 22 Cornwall Beauty Therapist
Stacey 25 Oldham Dog Kennel Worker

Series 7

Key:

     – Successful dates
# Air date No. of couples 1st couple 2nd couple 3rd couple 4th couple Viewers
(millions)
ITV weekly ranking
1
3 January 2015
4
Ash and Daisy
Scott and Kat)16
Steve and Gabriella
Craig and Natalie
2.76
22
2
10 January 2015
4
Peter and Becky
Liam and Chloe
Colin and Melanie
Chris and Jade
3.04
23
3
17 January 2015
3
Andrew and Kayleigh
Jamie and Christina
Matt (n/a)
Ross and Sophie
3.00
21
4
24 January 2015
4
Lewis and Natasha
Archie and Rosie
Adam and Amy-Jane
Scott and Dan
2.83
25
5
31 January 2015
4
Rob and Kim
Ryan and Amy
Karl and Rachel
Jamie and Alision
2.80
23
6
7 February 2015
3
Liam and Emily
Jonathan (n/a)
Nick and Looci
Ashley collins and Alicia
3.08
19
7
14 February 2015
4
Seeb and Holly-Jane
Ben and Dani
Will and Harriette
Phil and Christiana
2.96
20
8
21 February 2015
4
Rich and Natasha
Andy and Naomi
Ashely and Lauren
Ross and Anusha
3.75
15
9
28 February 2015
3
Darian and Stephanie
Tony and Shadz
Ben and Whitney
Aaron (n/a)
3.24
19
10
7 March 2015
4
Leslie and Marian
Alan and Kirsty
Cole and Sophie
Pete and Kate
3.06
20
Girls from Series 7
Name Age Location Occupation
Abigail 19 Cardiff Administration Support Assistant
Aimee-Jayne 29 Bolton Administration Support Assistant
Alison 27 Staffordshire Vintage Dress Maker
Amy 34 Blackpool Nail Technician Student
Becky 28 Sheffield Catering Student
Claire 23 Manchester Fairy/Murder Mystery Role Player
Daisy 23 London Town City Worker
Danielle 23 Cheshire Account Manager for a Bank
Dani 26 London Town Events Recruitment Agent
Emily 23 Guisborough Speech Therapy Assistant
Farah 26 London Town Sales & Marketing Executive
Gabriella 18 Norfolk Disney Princess
Jade 23 Grimsby Customer Service Advisor
Janine 30 Kent Site Secretary for a Constriction Company
Kat 23 London Town Personal Assistant
Kayleigh 23 Dundee Ballet Teacher
Kelly 35 Cheshire Oil Company Account Manager
Kim 20 Bangor Education Studies Student
Kirstie 26 Belfast Admin Assistant
Kirsty S 26 Cheshire Horse Trainer
Lauren 19 Cardiff Sports Science Student
Looci 26 Leeds Fire Breather and Circus Entertainer
Melanie 27 Norfolk Nurse
Natalie 28 Wokingham Department Store Worker
Natasha 25 Essex Tennis Coach
Risha 24 Sheffield Mobile Hairdresser
Shadz 31 London Town Fashion Designer
Sophie 24 Surrey Marketing Assistant
Vanessa 25 London Town Lampshade Designer

[14]

Series 8

Key:

     – Successful dates
# Air date No. of couples 1st couple 2nd couple 3rd couple 4th couple Viewers
(millions)
ITV weekly ranking
1
2 January 2016
3
Freddie and Laura
Nik (n/a)
Joe and Megan
Gaz and Charlotte
3.24
14
2
9 January 2016
3
Rhys and Darcie
Ellis and Gina
Ola (n/a)
Sam and Joanna
3
16 January 2016
Mitch and TBA
Adam and TBA
Nathan and TBA
Rick and TBA
4
23 January 2016
5
30 January 2016
6
6 February 2016
7
13 February 2016
8
20 February 2016
9
27 February 2016
10
5 March 2016
Girls from Series 8
Name Age Location Occupation
Laura 23 Clapham
Amy 23 Cornwall
Terezita 21 Belfast
Megan 27 Poole
Charlotte 23 Canvey Island
Joanna 25 Belfast
Ella 19 Hastings
Victoria 34 Chesterfield
Shelley 28 South Shields
Hannah 26 Stockport
Stephanie 26 Sheffield
Darcie 23 Essex
Milly 19 Oldham
Sophie 23 Henley
Margarita 24 Sussex
Ashleigh 24 Essex
Julie 45 Brighton
Elena 24 Doncaster
Gemma 25 London
Emma 23 Glasgow
Beckie 28 Walton-on-Thames
Vivienne 23 Luton
Jade 24 Nottingham
Fifi 20 Essex
Andrea 28 Portsmouth
Leanne 30 Bridgend
Sophia 27 Bristol
Rachel 26 Newcastle
Clair 21
Emily 33 Reading
Laura Hull
Chloe Warrington

Notes

  • ^Note 16 : On the last episode of the series, Whilst looking at the dates from the episode Scott and Kat appeared saying that they were celebrating their 10-week anniversary in Fernando's. The reason they saw him was because the girls and Paddy were on a plane pretending to go to Fernando's.

International versions

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Reception

Viewership

Take Me Out has proven popular with the public, generally pulling over 2 million viewers per episode.

Critical reception

In its early days, Take Me Out was reviewed negatively by critics. Shortly after the second series began in December 2010, The Guardian's Tim Dowling said that, "When you strip away its tired, utterly false premise, all that remains of Take Me Out is a lot of flashing lights and some scripted innuendo delivered in a range of regional accents."[15] Reviewing the show after the second series concluded in March 2011, Manchester Grouch of Manchester Central wrote: "ITV should consider renaming the show 'Desperate Moron Lift Disco'" and concluded the review by comparing it to "...a drunken Saturday night out that ends up in a dodgy club having a quick fumble with that girl from the hairdressers you’ve been eyeing up all week.".[16] Writing for the Metro during the third series of the show in January 2012, Rachel Tarley said that Take Me Out was the "death knell for feminism disguised as entertainment".[17]

However, after the beginning of the fifth series in January 2013, Julia Raeside, also writing for The Guardian, admitted that the show had become "must-see TV" and was "a worthy successor to Blind Date": "...when Take Me Out noisily barged its way on to the Saturday night schedules in 2010, it was too much for me. The little I'd seen of it put me off trying a whole episode...But about a series ago, Take Me Out really started to grow on me. One night, out of sheer laziness, I didn't bother to switch over – and now they've got me. I don't like nightclubs and I cover my upper arms at all times. But the women behind those podiums, however much I fail to identify with them for wanting to be on TV with their armpits constantly on show, make it gripping viewing."[18]

Controversies

Throughout its run, several Take Me Out contestants, both male and female, have caused controversy by hiding things that are against the show's rules or have offended viewers and/or other contestants by their actions.

Jim Brown

Wrestler Jim Brown, the first contestant on the first series, was accused of continually harassing his date Caroline Mellor despite the fact that their date didn't work out. Caroline claimed to receive numerous phone calls and texts from him for over four months. Jim was later also charged with possession of child pornography on his computer.[19] Prior to this, Jim was caught pleasuring himself in a Wishaw Sports Centre cubicle, which alerted the police to investigate him.[20] On 21 March 2014, Jim was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for flouting a ban on going near children.[21]

Wen-Jing Mo and Aaron Withers

The date segment of contestant Wen-Jing Mo scoring a date with construction worker Aaron Withers was axed from the programme after it transpired that Aaron had a criminal conviction for punching a woman, had worked as an escort, and also had a long-term girlfriend, and that Wen-Jing had also worked as an escort for a short period ten years previously.[10]

Damion Merry

The studio segment of contestant Chelsea Stewart scoring a date with model Damion Merry caused controversy when broadcast. During the third and final round, it became apparent that Damion used to date Jodie Marsh, and he later told one of the girls who had turned her light off, Lucy Harrold, that he would have picked her, offending all the girls who still had their lights on. It later transpired that not only was Damion not single at the time the programme was filmed, he was also about to marry his girlfriend Sarah Ann Gras; the segment was broadcast a month after the wedding took place. On This Morning, Marsh later denied having ever dated Damion, saying: "I tell you what, this guy - I went on one date with him, one date...We had pictures in a nightclub, he sold the pictures to the TV show or whoever and gave 'em away and now, it's being told that we had a whole full blown relationship and that I was his ex-girlfriend.".[22][23]

Rory Alexander

The studio segment of contestant Jade scoring a date with banker Rory Alexander was axed from the programme, after it transpired that Rory was serving a suspended sentence for common assault. Jade did not return to the show.[24]

Jarvis Walters

The studio segment of contestant Hannah Reville scoring a date with semi-professional footballer Jarvis Walters was axed from the programme, after it transpired that Jarvis had served a 12-month community order for assaulting another man in a nightclub in 2009. Hannah did not return to the show.[25]

Param Singh

Many viewers were extremely offended when one of the girls who left her light on for contestant Param Singh made a joke about contestant Param's turban, saying she was interested in him because she could use his turban to store her phone. Despite the fact Param himself took it light-heartedly, many Sikhs found this remark to be extremely offensive. Param later went on to describe the backlash that he received from sections of the Sikh community.[26]

Fakery claims

In 2012, several of the contestants accused the show's producers of telling them whom to choose on each episode. Female contestants complained that they were forced to choose men who they didn't find attractive, while some of the show's male contestants went home without a date after the girls were told not to choose them.

"The whole thing is totally misleading and leaves a whole lot of people feeling humiliated and exploited afterwards," one girl who had appeared on the show told the media.

"The producers pulled some of the girls in and said, 'If you’re waiting for George Clooney or Brad Pitt, they’re not coming',"

"They told us to keep our lights on for the next contestant, who was more than 10 years younger than me. I refused and was taken off."

Other female contestants reported that producers had told them to reject certain men even if they liked them because it made better television.[27][28][29][30]

Influences

Take Me Out is cited by the creators of the website tubecrush.net as being an influence for their website, as they saw it as an example of how the sexual objectification of men had become part of mainstream culture in the UK.[31]

Take Me Out – The Album

Take Me Out – The Album is a 60-song compilation album, which was released 18 November 2013.[32]

Track listing

Board game

A board game was released on 3 August 2011. It contains: Light and buzzer number unit, 100 single man cards, 50 the power is in your hand cards, 1 single girl pad, 12 isle of Fernando's vouchers, Coloured dice and Rules[33]

References

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  5. Visit the real Isle of Fernando, Tenerife | Directline Holidays blog
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  13. Series 8, Episode 94
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  20. Paedophile who exposed himself at Wishaw Sports Centre freed from prison Daily Record
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External links