Peacock orders Pride And Prejudice-style dating show
Participants will embark on carriage and boat rides on the lake, participate in archery and pen handwritten letters to one another
TV News Pride And Prejudice
In the era of dating apps and salacious reality dating shows like Love Island and Too Hot To Handle, it’s time someone took it old school—it’s time we threw it back to the days of courting and corsets. Peacock is ready to do just that. The streamer has ordered the first season of a new reality dating show, called Pride And Prejudice: An Experiment In Romance, inspired by Jane Austen’s romantic tale. That’s right, one lucky heroine will be wooed by a group of Mr. Darcys—hopefully less reserved and judgmental Mr. Darcys who are open to dancing, even if their partner is barely tolerable.
According to Variety, one dame and a group of her potential dukes will reside in a castle in the countryside in search of their fairytale ending. They will embark on carriage and boat rides on the lake, participate in archery, and pen handwritten letters to one another. There better be plenty of afternoon picnics and strolls through the promenade. After all of this courting and slow-paced romance, the heroine will select her one true love.
The Amazing Race, Making It, and America’s Next Top Model producer Anthony Dominici will executive produce the series alongside Sharon Levy (Lego Masters), DJ Nurre (My Cat From Hell), Michael Heyerman (Toddlers And Tiaras), and Susy Price (The Circle).
It’s possible that the most scandalous display of affection to occur on the show will be hand-holding or kisses on the cheek—unless this regency era reality show wants to lean more into unyielding horniness of Bridgerton. However, all we know is that nothing expresses more chemistry and sexual tension than the iconic hand flex scene in Kiera Knightley’s Pride And Prejudice (2005). Now the real question is, will participants of the show don period-appropriate garb throughout the experience? We’re picturing Alexandra Byrne’s Oscar-winning costuming in the regency-set Emma (2020).
17 Comments
Can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction when they are introduced to the chamber pots.
The challenge where they all have to contract tuberculosis and spend a week working in a textile mill is going to be epic.
If they’re all supposed to be cosplaying as the gentry class I’d say the biggest concerns are syphilis and gout.
You’ll love The 1900 House.
they gotta brush their teeth with salt and a twig
This is crazy. I just read a book with this premise on my Kindle. I think it was written during the pandemic and self-published. Maybe someone read it and got an idea…
So, Pride and Prejudice-“style” in that there will a bunch of dubiously authentic Regency shit, not in that it will be a subtly satirical commentary on contemporary gender roles and courtship mores. Got it.
I remember reading once a description of Jane Austen cosplayers, dividing them into the ”Austenites” who fully appreciated the satire and somewhat dark underbelly of her novels, and the “Jane-ites”, who mostly just liked the pretty trappings of the period costumes and mannerisms. I’m guessing this show will likely fall within the Jane-ite camp.
I knew a Jane-ite once. She was terrible.
For full verisimilitude, the contestants’ financial futures should be dependent on them securing a good marriage, or else an oily priest gets to kick them out of their homes.
I was hoping for a Pride & Prejudice & Zombies-themed dating show.
Regency House Party.
Is there a huge crossover between readers of Austen and viewers of trashy reality dating shows?
As someone who loves regency-set works but is also an avid Love Island viewer…. absolutely
I’m not an Austen head myself but judging by a bunch of my friends with lit degrees and a love of Real Housewives and Below Decks, yup.Also, I don’t think you have to have actually read Austen to enjoy the show.
Does no one remember that this show already exists? It was called
Regency House Party and it aired on PBS in 2004. I vividly remember how
they all had to share the same bath water. Yuck!
Matthew Macfadyen looks like he just woke up in a dumpster in that pic. But, like, a nice brand of dumpster in an upscale neighbourhood.