Do you want to take part in The Undateables for Channel 4

[wendy]

My name is Sam and I work for a production company called Betty TV. We’ve just started making the fourth series of The Undateables for Channel 4 and are currently trying to get the word out that we’re looking for new participants should anyone want to apply. This year, the same as previous years, we’ve found that most of our applications come from carers and support workers who are nominating those who they look after. As such, I’d be ever so grateful if you could circulate this information amongst your network of carers and support workers should anybody know someone who might be interested in applying. Perhaps you could put a post on your website?

To those who’ve not heard of the programme, now in our fourth year we are making a vibrant, romantic and insightful documentary series which will follow disabled people and those with a variety of conditions on their quest to find love. The series explores society’s attitude towards disabled people and how this can affect relationships. We’ve helped people with a variety of disabilities and learning difficulties find love over the past 3 series, and hope to do the same this year.

We also occasionally get questions about the title and what it means. It's a provocative title that is meant to challenge the notion that the varied difficulties that arise from having a disability somehow makes you 'undateable'. This notion is, as we all know, rubbish - reaffirmed by Cupid knocking the 'Un' off the title with his arrow in the opening credits.

So, if anybody your know of work with has a disability or learning difficulty and is looking for that special someone, or if you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact us at Undateables@betty.co.uk, or drop us a line on 020 7290 0223 (feel free to leave a voicemail if nobody can get to the phone). Also, if anyone would like hard copies of the attached flyer to put up on noticeboards or elsewhere, in A4 or A5, then please ask at the same email address and I’ll put some in the post for you.

[Rosalind]

Good luck to anyone that wants to take part, not my cuppa of tea, I would hate to be the centre of attention.

[Honey]

quote......
most of our applications come from carers or support workers who are nominating those who they look after
I hope anyone nominated  has the capability of choice to/and agrees to this.
it is not made clear in the mailing.

[chenrezig]

Downright awful ...straightaway it assumes that all who have a learning disability or are disabled are incapable of finding someone.. they may already have someone they are married to, a partner of, or they may not be interested and quite happy as they are...

It asks for others who have no business at all  to interfer with people's personal lives. How would you like if someone you (had) regarded as a friend phoned up a TV company and told them all about your private personal life?

"Carers and support workers" they are supposed to care for and support, not take make judgements or take decisions about personal choices and lifestyes.  No where does it mention asking the person invilved or gaining their informed consent to approach the TV company.