MTV has unveiled Date Me Right Now, a new digital first dating show hosted by creator and presenter Kim Cumberbatch. The series is set to launch this summer on MTV UK’s YouTube channel, with social clips rolling out across Instagram and TikTok.
The 12 x 10-minute digital series is produced by Fawkes Digital, marking MTV’s first collaboration with the production company. It follows Cumberbatch as she takes dating out of the apps and into the real world, helping Gen Z singles search for genuine connection on the streets this summer, with special cameos.
In each episode, Cumberbatch acts as wing woman to one hopeful dater, starting with a walk-and-grill on their dating dealbreakers before scouring the city centre for potential matches. Along the way, quickfire questions and minigames fill the journey, with the aim of sparking cringeworthy, viral moments and online debate. By the end of each episode, the singles may have secured a date, or still be match-pending, but all take part in a universally relatable search for shared connection and companionship.
A key goal of the series is to bring dating culture to life beyond the screen. Every four episodes, the show moves to a new UK city centre, including London, Manchester and Newcastle, exploring different dating scenes and romantic dynamics.
Cumberbatch said: “Dating app fatigue is real. A lot of people are bored of swiping and want to meet people IRL. Date Me Right Now takes dating back into the real world, and I love helping people take that leap to prove that real connection can still happen when you put yourself out there.”
Amie Parker Williams, director of digital commissioning and production at MTV UK (pictured), said: “Date Me Right Now taps directly into the realities of modern relationships, from awkward first encounters and big expectations to the thrill of genuine connection. MTV has always been at its best when it reflects youth culture as it’s really being lived, and this series captures the emotions, pressures and possibilities shaping how young people connect today.”
Lucy Smith, founder and creative director of Fawkes Digital, added: “Street dating formats are having a moment across the creatorsphere, so it’s been a career highlight getting Date Me Right Now greenlit with the pioneering digital team at MTV. And to bring this to life with the rising star Kim Cumberbatch is a proper dream, we can’t wait to unleash her trademark wit and warmth onto Britain’s streets!”
Date Me Right Now will launch with full episodes on MTV UK’s YouTube channel, supported by short‑form clips across Instagram and TikTok. The series joins MTV UK’s growing digital slate, which also includes recent commissions such as Shall We?, the vodcast hosted by Sophie Kasaei and Holly Hagan, and In Search of Peace with Jordan Stephens, currently filming.
