Thursday, 28 September 2023

Why U.K. Dating Show 'Naked Attraction' Is Suddenly Everywhere

British dating show Naked Attraction has made a big splash in the U.S. following its stateside release on Max a week ago. The series, which first premiered in the U.K. in 2016, has rocketed to the top spot on Max's "Most Popular" series list on the platform, prompting questions about why exactly a seven-year-old show has suddenly gained a new, ravenous fanbase. 

The rules are simple. Single people looking for that special someone judge and eliminate prospective dates standing in front of them completely in the nude. Because it's on Max, the show features close-up, full-frontal nudity and lots of descriptive discussions about sex, though no actual sex is shown. 

Contestants are given the chance to evaluate each prospective date little by little, from genitals and backside in the first round to their chest and, eventually, their face and voice. Once they've narrowed it down to two people, the contestants themselves strip down to nothing for a back-to-basics rendezvous with their winner. After they go on a date, they return to the studio to give an update on how it went and if they're still together. 

While one would think the seemingly shallow nature of judging potential dates would lead people to favor those with conventionally attractive body types, bodies of all kinds are celebrated in the series, now in its seventh season currently airing in the U.K.

The show has found a fan in people like The View co-host Sunny Hostin, who admitted she learned about things like Prince Albert piercings thanks to the show. "I got so obsessed with this show that [my husband and I] binged it," she said. "I learned things I have never heard of in my life.... It was one of the most fascinating things I've ever seen."

According to Parrot Analytics, audience demand for Naked Attraction is 6.2 times higher than the average show in the U.S. in the last month. This places it above other popular series on the platform like I May Destroy You, The Hype, and Industry and on par with hit HBO originals like Insecure. Max doesn't release specific streaming numbers for series, but its place atop the top 10 is based on the number of accounts watching content that has been recently added to the platform. 

Brits who have known about the series for years are delighting in its newfound fame across the pond. "I love Americans' reaction when they find out about Naked Attraction, it's hilarious," one X user wrote. "No way Americans are just discovering Naked Attraction, it's an iconic British staple," another said.

Of course, the show's sudden rise hasn't come without its critics. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro chimed in by saying that its popularity is "the natural outcome of a hedonistic society where the only thing that matters is the sex instinct." The U.S.-based Parents Television Council called it "pornographic" and blasted Max for quietly adding the series to its platform. 

One user asked the important question of how the show has been on the air for years but is just now gaining attention here. "I just wanna know how come the Brits got to see full-frontal nudity of men on TV six years ahead of us!!! Who knew?" they said. Another posed a great question: "If you’re on Naked Attraction and have a regular 9–5 job, how do you go back to work and face your coworkers every day?" they asked. "Maybe the Europeans don’t care about stuff like that." Someone else admitted that being a participant on the show and having your body parts judged "sounds like my worst nightmare."

Ultimately, Naked Attraction's sudden stateside success can likely be attributed to variety of things, including people's natural curiosity about a series that would allow stark nudity when lining up a first date. If you start dating someone, you're bound to see them naked at some point anyway, right?



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