Channel 4 sashays onto the dancefloor with Flirty Dancing (w/t)

In days gone by the dancefloor was the ultimate place to meet your other half. Recently, technology has put a dent in old fashioned romance. So now we’re looking to restore the dancefloor desire through one single dance.

Channel 4 today announces Flirty Dancing (w/t), a new five part series, which sees self-confessed romantic Ashley Banjo, play cupid using his skills as Britain’s best loved choreographer to bring people together through the art of dance.

Before each unique date, we take two complete strangers and teach them one half of a fully choreographed dance routine which has been cleverly tailored to illustrate their personalities and what they want from a prospective partner. The singles will learn their routine separately so that the first time they meet their match will be a first date like no other. Set on location, as if they’re living in a Hollywood musical, there will be no talking, just a few intense and physical minutes of an ardently choreographed pas de deux. Once our couples have completed their dance date, they will part still not yet having spoken a word to each other. But did sparks fly on the dancefloor? Will they want to see each other again or was that their last dance?

Two sets of single people will be paired up per show and Ashley will be with them every step of the way. Ashley, who himself met his wife through dance, will match the couples using different dance styles meaning it could be a Waltz in Wolverhampton, a Tango in Tenby or even a street dance in Sheffield.

Flirty Dancing (w/t) (5 x 60) is a Second Star production part of Objective Media Group and has been commissioned by Sarah Lazenby Commissioning Editor for Entertainment and Factual Entertainment at Channel 4. The Executive Producers for Second Star are Deborah Sargeant and Andrew Burgess. The Series Producer is Ami Jackson.

Sarah Lazenby, Commissioning Editor for Factual Entertainment at Channel 4 said, “Inspired by the evocative atmosphere of La La Land, we want to recapture the magic and romance of the dancehall days when you could be swept off your feet rather than being swept left or right. We are delighted that Ashley Banjo is coming to Channel 4 with this warm and charming series that sees couples brought together through the art of dance.”

Ashley Banjo said, “Dance exposes your true self – you can’t hide behind words or an outfit… Back in the good old days, three quarters of people met their partners on a dancefloor. I met my wife dancing; we really connected and got to know each other in dance class. There was a chemistry that I don’t think would have been created sitting across from each other at a table and just talking… I want to bring a bit of old-fashioned romance back to dating – the magic that can be created without a word being spoken…"

Second Star’s Chief Creative Officer Deborah Sargeant added, “At Second Star we set out to create fact ent ideas with a twist and Flirty Dancing (w/t) is a wonderful chance for us to deliver on our ambition. Every episode is bursting with heart and charm as our singles prepare for a date unlike any other we’ve seen on TV. Their stories unravel like a warm and fuzzy rom com. I defy viewers not to smile out loud.”

Second Star is part of Objective Media Group, an All3media company.

ENDS