On April 21, 2026, an announcement confirmed that Amy Spalding and Gareth Valentino, recognizable from the BBC series I Kissed a Girl and I Kissed a Boy, will team up to present a new audio project. The venture is described as a spin-off from the original BBC show and is being created in collaboration with Tinder. This development signals a move from broadcast television into the podcast space, where extended conversations and personal storytelling can be explored in depth. The hosts are set to carry forward the programmes’ focus on queer relationships while using the flexibility of audio to probe different angles of dating, identity and connection.
The team behind the series emphasizes the intent to build a welcoming environment for contributors and listeners alike. A key line from the announcement captured that mission: “Creating a safe, inclusive space where queer people can share their journeys means so much to us and feels more important than ever before.” The new show will be titled It Started With A Kiss, and it promises to centre candid recollections, reflections on modern dating and conversations about how culture and technology intersect with intimacy. Collaborating with Tinder positions the series to examine real-world dating dynamics alongside personal narratives.
Format and thematic focus
The podcast will follow a conversational format that blends interviews, personal essays and roundtable chat, allowing guests to unfold their stories organically. Expect episodes to explore practical subjects such as navigating dating apps, first kisses, coming out moments and the emotional labour of relationships, all framed by the hosts’ own experiences from the BBC shows. Producers say the series will balance entertaining anecdotes with more reflective segments that consider broader social themes. By leveraging the strengths of the audio medium, the programme aims to create intimate moments that are often harder to capture on television, with soundscapes and pacing designed to foreground personal testimony and emotional nuance.
About the hosts
Amy Spalding and Gareth Valentino bring complementary perspectives shaped by their previous television roles. As familiar faces from I Kissed a Girl and I Kissed a Boy, they have experience guiding conversations about attraction, identity and the awkward, meaningful moments that shape relationships. Their rapport—part empathetic interviewer, part peer—will be central to the show’s tone. Rather than acting as detached commentators, the hosts will often share their own vulnerabilities and insights, helping to set a conversational atmosphere where guests feel comfortable divulging deeper memories. This dynamic is intended to make the series both approachable and emotionally resonant for a wide audience.
Community and cultural significance
The launch of this podcast carries cultural weight beyond entertainment. By continuing the BBC show’s mission in a new medium, the project aims to amplify queer voices and to normalise a diversity of relationship experiences. The creators emphasize inclusivity and representation as core values, ensuring stories from different genders, sexualities and backgrounds are heard. In doing so, the series hopes to foster empathy, reduce stigma and offer practical insight for listeners who may be navigating similar situations. The involvement of Tinder also opens avenues for conversations about the role of technology in shaping contemporary dating practices.
Impact on listeners and contributors
For many potential listeners, the show promises to function as both mirror and map: a place to see familiar feelings reflected and to gather signposts for future choices. Contributors will be invited to recount turning points—first kisses, unexpected connections, moments of clarity—while hosts and guests unpick what those experiences meant. This participatory approach is designed to cultivate dialogue, not only between host and guest but among the audience as well. Interactive elements, such as listener questions or themed segments, may feature to bridge the gap between studio and community, reinforcing the idea of media that is responsive to its audience.
Partnership and distribution notes
The collaboration with Tinder signals a partnership model that mixes editorial storytelling with a brand known for matchmaking technology. While specifics about episode release schedules or platform exclusivity were not detailed in the announcement, the pairing suggests access to a broad, digitally engaged audience and opportunities for integrated content that examines dating culture from multiple vantage points. Regardless of distribution mechanics, the creative objective remains clear: to extend the conversational heart of the original BBC shows into a format where stories can breathe, unfold and connect deeply with listeners.