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Images: Tom Dymond/Netflix
Love Is Blind: UK Season 1 Cast: Meet the Singles Bringing the Bants to the Pods
One has a rapper alter-ego, while another was previously engaged for only 24 hours.
You never forget your first: love, heartbreak, and season of Love Is Blind: UK.
Like many before them, a group of 30 men and women are leaving their fates in the hands of a dating experiment responsible for bringing soulmates together across the globe. But this time, it’s breaking new ground with an inaugural United Kingdom–based season, co-hosted by Matt and Emma Willis.
This August, the married couple will guide the incoming pod squad, which includes a gym-loving funeral director and cellist with a thing for older women, through the inevitable chaos that comes with getting sight unseen. Once they exit the pods, the blossoming relationships will be put to the test, as the fiancés jet off to a romantic retreat before bracing for a reality check back home. Within a matter of weeks, only the most committed couples will find themselves at the altar, where they’ll decide if love is truly blind.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First, it’s time to learn more about the Love Is Blind: UK singles. Below, find out about their absolute deal-breakers, dating dreams, and where to follow them on social media.
The Men
Aaron
As the owner of the popular chicken wing franchise Wing Kingz, Aaron is searching for a queen to join his roost. Since ending a long-term relationship, he’s embraced the single life, but now Aaron doesn’t want to be alone when the party ends. After all, he knows everlasting love is possible thanks to his parents, who’ve been together for the past 34 years. Now it’s Aaron’s time to follow in the footsteps of his brothers and sisters and create his own family.
Benaiah
It’s safe to say Benaiah is used to riding solo. Following a painful first heartbreak, he’s spent the past 11 years free of any romantic attachments. But now that he’s settled back in the UK after traveling the world, this adventure seeker is ready for his next feat: marriage. However, Benaiah isn’t interested in following any sort of handbook for a happily ever after. Instead, he wants to create a brand new blueprint for what family life could be — one that is based on love and trust with a partner with whom he can totally let his guard down.
Bobby
Whether you know him as Bobby or by his rapper alter-ego Bobby J, music is the way to this British boy’s heart. After traveling the world, he’s now ready to be in perfect harmony with the woman of his dreams. Family comes first for Bobby, who says he doesn’t know where he would be without his mother. And after losing his cousin under tragic circumstances, he’s keenly aware of just how short life is. That’s why Bobby is more than ready to “fall very hard” for his future wife in the pods.
Charlie
When it comes to relationships, Charlie has been through it all — serial dating, giving his mom control of his apps, and dodging more than a few catfishes along the way. Despite his cheeky sense of humor, the former soccer player hasn’t had much luck finding lasting love in the past five years. But he hasn’t given up hope just yet. Charlie knows that a genuine connection is waiting for him on the other side of the pods, because “looks can only take things so far.” Plus, he’s of the belief that you ultimately “need your best mate” for a true partnership, so only a soul connection will do.
Cono
Long distance was to blame for the demise of Conor’s last relationship, but seven years later he’s more than healed from the heartbreak. Still, this expert flirt has found it difficult to connect with anyone else on a deeper level, despite having plenty of love to give — and dreams of starting a family one day. But no matter where this journey takes him, Conor is bringing the memory of his late mother with him, as he recently opened a health food business in her memory.
Freddie
In the past, many have been quick to judge fitness enthusiast Freddie solely by his looks. But Freddie has fostered a deep sense of empathy, thanks to his career as a full-time funeral director and his tight bond with brother Jack, who has Down syndrome. As for love, Freddie goes all in, buying flowers, booking travel plans, and making dinner reservations for his partner. Unfortunately, his exes haven’t exactly appreciated his overt displays of affection, so he’s hoping to find someone who speaks his love language.
Jake
If Jake had his way, he’d already be married with kids by now. Among his friends, he has a reputation for falling in love quickly and being “a bit of a melt” in past relationships. He’s never been more motivated to find his perfect match in the pods. And if any of the women can match his patient and sensitive nature, there’s no stopping Jake from walking away from the experiment with his forever partner.
Joanes
Salsa and language enthusiast Joanes hopes his next partner will be his forever amour. But finding someone who shares his values in this swipe-happy world has proved difficult, as Joanes isn’t interested in playing games or text message tennis. Instead, he’s an old-school romantic who’s searching for something extremely rare in his future wife, as “rocks are easily found, but you have to dig deep for that diamond.”
Jordan
Jordan has watched his friends and family get married and have kids one by one, and now he’s ready to take the plunge. And while he’s taken risks in business as the founder of his own company, putting it all on the line for love isn’t his typical approach. For Jordan, trust has to be earned, but he’s ready to throw caution to the wind in the pods should his potential soulmate be on the other side of that glowing blue wall.
Ollie
Going for “Instagram-hot” girls hasn’t yielded the meaningful partnership Ollie has always desired deep down. After six years of being single, he’s finally ready to switch up his dating strategy and deprioritize looks to meet a potential soulmate. Plus, he’s absolutely tired of arriving to all of his friends’ weddings without a date and wants to find his forever plus one. But if anybody wants to be a part of Ollie’s life, they’ll have to get the approval of his family, as absolutely nothing means more to him.
Richie
Richie is an avid sports fan, but he’s done playing games when it comes to dating. His most serious relationship spanned 18 months, but came to an end when his then-girlfriend expressed doubts about starting a family. Since then, Richie’s been on the hunt for a woman who’s future-oriented and who doesn’t mind giving him plenty of reassurance. But the pods might prove difficult for Richie, whose love language is first and foremost physical touch.
Ryan
Say cello to Ryan: a techno DJ and cellist, who’s looking to end his two-year single streak. In previous relationships, the Korea-born musician has dated older, but he’s open to connecting with women of all ages in the pods. However, at 6’3, tall women tend to grab his attention. Ryan's biggest challenge with dating is getting people on board with his demanding schedule, as he often works through the night and jets off around the world to perform. But strike the right chord with him, and he’s ready to make a commitment of a lifetime.
Sam
For years, Sam’s mom has been on his back about settling down and finding a wife, but he’s entering the experiment for his own reasons. With two heartbreaks in his past, Sam wants to make his third shot at love the one that lasts a lifetime. He’s excited to lead with his personality in the pods, as women in London tend to focus on Sam’s height (for the record, he’s 6’4) instead of his heart. But he hasn’t made any real attempts at dating lately, as his “extraordinary” career growth has been on the forefront of his mind, while his love life has fallen by the wayside.
Steven
Steven is dating to marry and start a family — and he just needs to find the right woman to return all the love he has to offer. As the owner of his own gym, Steven puts in work when it comes to fitness, but he’s just as focused on a heart and mind connection. He goes above and beyond to pay attention to his partner’s needs in a relationship, making notes of their likes, dislikes, hopes, and dreams. Entering the pods, his head and heart are set on a locking down a happily ever after, as he’s already “almost got [his wedding] planned.”
Tom
After one long-term relationship, Tom spent most of his 30s focusing on his own personal growth, building his career, and getting ready to settle down. Now that he’s been single for six years, Tom is ready to take the next step and put his search for love above everything else. And, as a frequent traveler, he’s done jetting off around the world solo, as “watching a sunset [isn’t] the same on your own.” But ladies, be warned: Tom is a self-described and very proud “mummy’s boy,” so anyone who makes it down the aisle must first get a green light from the No.1 woman in his life.