Love Island meets Bridgerton in new reality dating show inspired by Pride and Prejudice

Love Island and Bridgerton might sound like polar opposites, but a new Pride and Prejudice-inspired dating show looks set to make the combination of period details and match-making drama our next obsession.  

Love Island arrived back on our screens with a bang last month, bringing with it our annual serving of love and betrayal on the picturesque island of Majorca. Sadly the Covid-19 pandemic meant the summer 2020 series was unable to go ahead, leaving fans even more excited than usual to find out how to watch Love Island in time for the new series. Though it's not the only dating show that's caught viewers' attention in recent weeks, as Netflix's weird new dating show has been dividing the internet ever since the first trailer dropped.

Now it seems there will soon be another reality dating show to get stuck into - and it'll take viewers back in time in their quest to find love. Streaming service Peacock have reportedly ordered a brand new series inspired by Pride and Prejudice's Regency-Era traditions. 

And with its match-making drama and historic throwbacks, it’s sure to delight fans of both Love Island and Bridgerton! 

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What will Pride and Prejudice: An Experiment in Romance be about? 

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the new show, entitled, Pride and Prejudice: An Experiment in Romance will see one lucky “heroine” looking to find her “duke”. The publication reports that the reality dating show will feature traditional romantic endeavours, such as those in Jane Austen’s classic novel, brought into the dating world. 

And similarly to how Love Island sees the singletons forming connections with their fellow contestants in a secluded Majorcan villa, Peacock’s new show takes the idea of dating in a stunning isolated setting one step further.

According to the show’s description, contestants will be getting to know each other from the comfort of a countryside castle, though the exact location of this fairy-tale filming location has yet to be announced.

“A group of eligible hopeful suitors will have to win the heart of our heroine, and her court. Housed in a castle on the countryside, set on a beautiful backdrop of rolling hills, the heroine and suitors will experience that with which dreams are made of”, the description states.

“From carriage rides and boat rides on the lake to archery and handwritten letters to communicate, they will be immersed in a time-traveling quest for love. In the end, our heroine and her suitors will discover if the ultimate romantic experience will find them true love … With the help of her court, our heroine will determine who most deserves to vie for her heart.”

The project is developed and produced by Endemol Shine North America with Anthony Dominici as executive producer and casting is currently open for prospective suitors.

And if that wasn't enough to get potential viewers intrigued, the prospect of watching love blossom over carriage rides and through good old-fashioned letter writing makes this a must-watch for fans of Netflix's Bridgerton.

Based on the bestselling book series by Julia Quinn, the steamy period drama followed the noble Bridgerton family trying to secure the most advantageous marriages. Whilst some have had more success than others, eldest daughter Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebe Dynevor, achieved both a love and society match when she and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings fell for each other. 

Despite Simon’s actor Regé-Jean Page sadly confirming he will not be returning for Bridgerton season 2, fans have been eagerly anticipating what romances, betrayals and secrets lie in store in the next instalment.

Now Pride and Prejudice: An Experiment in Romance will bring together a winning combination of Bridgerton's Regency glamour and Love Island-style match-making. And with no official release date confirmed, we'll just have to be patient as we wait to see whether one lucky heroine will have as much luck as Daphne in finding her perfect duke...