RYLAN Clark has hit back at critics for branding his new romance show, Dating Naked, as ‘disgraceful’.
The TV favourite appeared on This Morning on Friday to talk about the new show – which sees contestants leave their clothes at the door to find love while completely nude.
But critics have been far from happy with the series, with Evening Standard branding Dating Naked a ‘joyless flesh-fest’ while Daily Mail calling the series ‘tedious and attention-seeking’.
We at The Sun believe it’s just what we need from reality shows.
But Rylan was armed and ready to defend the show, calling it ‘dating laid bare’ – literally.
Speaking to Joel Dommett and Rochelle Humes, Rylan said: “It is Love Island without the bikinis, that’s pretty much what it is, you see everything, there’s no strategic placement of the cameras. You see absolutely everything.
“And all the reviews today from the same reviewers that give me five stars for my last show on BBC Two are like ‘This is disgraceful’. You know ‘I don’t need to see this’ – but that’s exactly what the show is, and its dating laid bare.”
When asked what we can expect from the show, Rylan added: “Oh a lot, I mean lucky I’m wearing sleeves because I’ve got a lot up them.
“There is a lot of twists and turns along the way and what’s great about it is you have no idea, and they have no idea what the end goal is.
“No one knows. How does someone win? How does the format play out? We do, you don’t, and that’s what keeps you going.”
The series first launched in the US in 2014, and ran for three seasons before it was cancelled.
But with the rise in popularity of shows like Naked Attraction, which gained massive attention when it was released in the States last year, the ‘baring all’ route to dating has seen a new lease of life.
A German version launched last year, with the UK now adding to the franchise.
In order to make sure the contestants are taken care of, Paramount+ hired an on-site intimacy coach to ensure everyone’s safety.
Rylan heaped praise on the show, saying their care was “unlike anything he’d ever seen before”.
Dating Naked UK is available now on Paramount+.
By Felicity Cross, Deputy TV Editor
Reality TV formats work best when they turn the volume up on real life.
If I wanted to watch normal people dating, I can do that down the Slug and Lettuce any night of the week.
It’s why programmes such as Dating Naked are essential.
I have seen two early episodes of the Paramount+ show and it is fascinating what the dynamic of being nude brings to conversation.
These beauty technicians, builders, personal trainers and models rapidly move past the fact they are starkers.
It’s just us, at home, that will feel voyeuristic to see a lad’s bits and bobs dangle on the Colombian villa’s diary room chair.
There is the childish humour of watching the lads trying to cope when they have become, ahem, excited.
You can go and watch the more mature folk on ITV’s My Mum, Your Dad, or switch over to Netflix, where a group of strangers have become engaged for Love Is Blind UK.
Or you can turn off entirely and dive into a drama, or true crime.
But if, like some snooty critics this week, you still feel the need to declare Dating Naked offensive, then you might be happier down the Slug and Lettuce.
