Finding love in lockdown Blackpool producer reveals brand new reality dating show - see the first trailer here

With dating apps and websites seeing an upward trend in subscribers, one intuitive Blackpool performer and writer believes he has created the perfect channel and space for finding love in lockdown, with a Zoom inspired dating show.

Think Gogglebox, meets Love Island and Street Mate, the sizzling reality dating show ‘LoveDown’ features the talents and hosting skills of former Emmerdale actress and theatre star Kelsey Beth Crossley from Fleetwood, on a mission to prove romance is not dead in isolation.

West End actor and producer Ashley Luke Lloyd creator behind LoveDown says the concept came about through talking to friends about a craving for connection through lockdown and the success of video conferencing in bringing people together for house parties, quiz nights and even dance sessions, which he has been continuing in isolation.

The 28 year old, writer of highly acclaimed Burlesque’d - A Stage Spectacular said: “If it could work for those things - why not the dating scene?

“I suddenly had this mad idea one Saturday night then this name’Lockdown’ ‘LoveDown’ and it really took off from there. I got in touch with Kelsey Beth and she was as excited about it as me.

“She was at home in Fleetwood and has a lot of experience in hosting and with a very minimal budget and an idea set about how we could find potential daters. I sent a few emails and some call-outs on social media and the response was fantastic.”

The programme which will air this summer, features singletons coming together and enjoying getting to know each other before a series of digital dates. Viewers are given an introduction to all the individuals and their characters.

After their dates the participants are then able to cast votes of their favourite ‘meet-ups’ with Kelsey Beth revealing any potential matches.

Of filming the show made by Maura Movies, Kelsey Beth, who attended Bispham High School alongside friend Ashley, said: “The reality world is so big now but this felt a lot more organic, it was so much fun and the set-up was just perfect for it.

“It is full of laughter and about having a good time, what you see is definitely what you get.

“They are all great people - we purposefully didn’t want any of the cattiness or sniping - that isn’t what it was about.

“Watching the footage and meeting everyone virtually has brought such light to the long days and we are all having a blast!”

To work around the current UK rules of lockdown, casting and filming has been done completely online with a production team all working from home to adhere to social distancing rules.

In creating the show, the contestants recorded their dates using their own phones or computers and then sent their footage to the production team. This adds an authentic feel to the show which captures the current situation for would-be daters during lockdown.

For more information about Lovedown, follow the Lovedown instagram page @lovedownuk and the Lovedown Facebook page at facebook.com/lovedownuk.