MAURA HIGGINS TO HOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED "BLIND DATE" SERIES FOR DISNEY+

Filming to begin in a secret location later this year

LONDON, UK (26 August 2026) - Disney+ has today confirmed globally recognized television personality and host, Maura Higgins, as the host of the highly anticipated, iconic British dating show "Blind Date."

The beloved Irish native's sharp wit and mischievous charm propelled her from a finalist position on Love Island UK, to a hosting role on Love Island USA: Aftersun. She went on to win the hearts of audiences around the world on The Traitors U.S. earlier this year, finishing as runner up and delivering reality TV gold in one of the series' most shocking and viral moments as she learned she was betrayed by her partner in the final episode. This autumn, she will continue to gain traction globally for her role in the hit U.S. show, Dancing with the Stars.

With "Blind Date," Higgins will continue her momentum and front the ultimate dating series as it returns to screens in 2027, reimagined for contemporary audiences - bigger, better, and bolder than ever.

As with the original British format, contestants must choose between three potential suitors, hidden from view behind the legendary "Blind Date" wall, the only thing standing between them and their potential true love just metres away.

Fans can expect a host of innovative format twists and a spicy dose of drama, as our daters will see if forever love can truly grow once the new series begins filming in a secret "Blind Date" location later this year, but potential new partners are always lurking behind the wall... More details to be announced in due course.

The Hulu Original series commissioned by Sean Doyle, VP, Unscripted, Disney+ EMEA from the UK (10x45') is executive produced by Matthew Worthy & Kieran Doherty for Stellify Media (a Sony Pictures Television-backed company) and Graham Stuart for SO TV (part of ITV Studios).

Angela Jain, Head of Content, Disney+ EMEA, commented: "Maura is the perfect match for our version of 'Blind Date'. Her distinctive straight-talking humour, coupled with her experience as a reality dating show contestant, means we know she has the gravitas plus the wit to bring 'Blind Date' to new audiences. We're very much looking forward to Maura helping our daters navigate their own journeys to find love as she steps into the famed 'Blind Date' host role."

END

NOTES TO EDITORS

Blind Date is based on the format, The Dating Game, from Sony Pictures Television and which is distributed by SPT worldwide.

ABOUT DISNEY+

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and outside the U.S., general entertainment brand Hulu. As the flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ serves as a connection point for audiences around the world with an unmatched collection of award-winning general entertainment and gold-standard family programming, the most trusted news, and global sports programming from ESPN. With unprecedented access to Disney's long history of incredible film and television entertainment, it is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.