Don't Tell the Bride | |
---|---|
Narrated by |
Ruth Jones (2007) Rebekah Staton (2008-present) Zoë Ball (2015) |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of series | 12 |
No. of episodes | 104 |
Production | |
Location(s) | Various |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production company(s) | Renegade Pictures (part of Warner Bros) |
Release | |
Original network |
BBC Three (2007–15) BBC One (2015) Sky 1 (2016–) |
Picture format | 16:9 576i (SDTV) |
Original release | 8 November 2007 | – present
External links | |
Website | |
Production website |
Don't Tell the Bride is a British reality television series. The premise of the series surrounds couples being awarded money to fund their wedding ceremony; however, every aspect of the ceremony must be organised by the groom, with no contact with the bride.
The series first premiered on BBC Three on 8 November 2007. In February 2012, it was announced that the show had been nominated for a Rose d'Or award for best 'Factual Entertainment' show. Due to the impending shutdown of BBC Three as a linear television service, the 9th series of the program was moved to BBC One. With the confirmed shutdown of BBC Three, as well as falling viewership in response to changes in the program's format that occurred upon the move, the BBC dropped Don't Tell the Bride. The series was then picked up for its 2016 series by Sky 1.
The show's format consists of a couple who are given £12,000 (£14,000 in the BBC One version) to spend on their wedding. However, they must spend three weeks apart without contact, and the bridegroom must organise every aspect of the event and attire, including the wedding dress, as well as the hen and stag parties, surprising the bride.
Although the series mostly features heterosexual couples, one episode broadcast in October 2010 featured a gay couple and another in November 2011 featured a lesbian couple, both preparing for their civil partnership.
Internationally, the series has attracted a strong following, with broadcast deals spanning 120 territories.
As of 2012, twelve locally produced versions have aired around the world. They are: Australia, Denmark (TV 2, 2009–), Finland (Liv), Greece & Cyprus (ANT1, 2011), Germany (RTL II, 2011–), Ireland (RTÉ, 2010–), Italy (Lei), Norway (TLC Norway), Poland (TLC Poland, 2011), Sweden (TV4), Turkey and United States. Various clips from some versions were shown in the 'Goes Global' special in 2012.