Imagine a dating show where the most common language isn't awkward small talk, but British Sign Language. That's Hold My Hand, the UK's newest foray into finding love on screen, and it's believed to be the first series ever conducted entirely in BSL.
Broadcast by Lumo TV, a streaming platform run by deaf people, this show isn't just about finding romance; it's a quiet revolution. Camilla Arnold, CEO of Lumo TV, points out that BSL has historically been an afterthought in mainstream media. Hold My Hand is here to change that, one charmingly signed conversation at a time.
No More Afterthoughts
Hosted by deaf identical twins Hermon and Heroda Berhane, the show features contestants who are either deaf or Codas (Children of Deaf Adults), meaning BSL is their first language, learned at home. Heroda explains that the show lifts the curtain on deaf culture and identity in a way never before seen on TV. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly overdue.
We're a new kind of news feed.
Regular news is designed to drain you. We're a non-profit built to restore you. Every story we publish is scored for impact, progress, and hope.
Start Your News DetoxIt's a much-needed spotlight. Research suggests a whopping 71% of young adults (18-24) wouldn't feel confident dating someone who uses BSL. The Berhane twins are hoping to dismantle those misconceptions, one flirty glance and signed joke at a time. Heroda simply calls BSL "just another language" and invites hearing audiences to lean in with curiosity, not apprehension.
The initial episodes, including one for LGBT+ singletons, involve plenty of fun games that quickly pivot into candid discussions about relationships and intimacy. Heroda's goal is straightforward: for hearing viewers to see that deaf people experience the full spectrum of human connection – love, sex, joy, flirtation, vulnerability – just like everyone else. "You speak the language that I cannot hear," Hermon added, "and I speak a language that you don't understand." Let that sink in.
This push for genuine representation isn't just for adults. Even Peppa Pig is getting in on the action, introducing a storyline where George, Peppa's younger brother, is diagnosed as moderately deaf and gets a hearing aid. Developed with the National Deaf Children's Society, it's a move that ensures accuracy and, more importantly, visibility for the over 50,000 deaf children in the UK. Because everyone deserves to see themselves reflected, whether they're looking for love or just trying to navigate a muddy puddle.
