We’ve combed through 98 seasons of popular dating shows from MAFS to Love Island, analysed thousands of couples and hundreds of break-ups, all to answer the question on everyone’s mind… are dating shows a genuinely viable option for those seeking love?
Spoiler alert: the answer might actually be… yes? Shocking, we know, but you’ll have to hear us out on this one, because we’ve got the facts and figures to prove that dating shows might just be the place to find your perfect match.
Match-makers
The best shows for finding love
From our research, we’ve pinpointed Love Island as the best dating show for finding love—in 13 seasons, the show has produced a staggering 32 couples (17 of whom are still going strong), culminating in about 3 couples per season.
Love Island may top the chart for forging real-world couples, but its legacy stretches beyond romance.
Molly Smith first appeared on Love Island season six, then returned for Love Island: All Stars which she won with Tom Clare, and is still happily coupled up today.
These days you’ll catch her sparkle in a different arena: the statement pieces she co-designed for Abbott Lyon’s Molly Smith Edit, a line that feels every bit as memorable as her villa victory.
Of course, not every on-screen match lasts, but even when the fairy-tale cracks, Love Islanders know how to turn the pressure into polish.
Gemma Owen, runner-up in 2022, split from Luca Bish just weeks after the finale. One of her post-show pivots included trading villa drama for a lower-key romance with fellow equestrian Red Morgan, and her stunning Gemma Owen × Abbott Lyon collection.
Mimii Tafara won the 2024 series, only to call it quits two months later. She poured the experience into something tangible: a slick collection of shimmer pave and black enamel bracelets and necklaces with Abbott Lyon that add “that perfect touch of glamour and luxury” without losing authenticity.
Dating disasters
The worst reality shows for finding love
For those on a quest for lifelong love, you’d be well advised to steer clear of Love Island USA and Naked Attraction; these date-show disasters produce little in the way of a connection, having only produced 5 active couples in the last 18 seasons.
If any celebrities are reading this, we respectfully suggest that you avoid any appearance on Celebs Go Dating. The likelihood of you finding a lasting relationship on this show is about 2.6%—the same probability of an asteroid hitting Earth sometime in the next 10 years.
Meant to be
Which show has made the most marriages?
With an on-screen marriage being the focus of shows like MAFS and Love is Blind, you might be surprised to learn that these aren’t actually the most successful marriage makers. In fact, it was Love on the Spectrum Australia that came out on top with a marriage success rate of 67%.
Love Island
Which season was the best for finding love?
Had you made an appearance on season 2 of Love Island UK, you would’ve stood a good chance of finding lasting love. The average length of relationships born out of season 2 was 8.5 years—quite the statistic when you consider that the season prior had an average relationship length of a little over a month.
The final verdict
Are dating shows really worth it?
We started our research convinced that dating shows were a less-than-ideal environment to try and kickstart a long, loving relationship. But by the end of it, we’ve now become convinced the opposite is true.
Dating on-screen, much like dating in the real world, is hit and miss - it all comes down to being in the right place at the right time when someone special comes along. Ultimately, television relationships are forged under immense pressure and scrutiny, and we all know that pressure makes diamonds. So, after all, there might just be something to finding love on a film set, so long as you pick the right show!