Maura Higgins to fill Cilla Black's shoes as host of Blind Date reboot

Maura Higgins, the Irish TV personality, is set to host a reboot of the popular TV show Blind Date, following in the footsteps of the late Cilla Black. Higgins gained fame in 2019 as a finalist on the dating show Love Island and has since appeared on The Traitors and various other reality TV shows. The original Blind Date, hosted by Black from 1985 to 1985, was a staple of Saturday night TV for nearly two decades.

Disney+ announced Higgins' involvement in the revival of the show on Instagram, where they mimicked one of Black's old catchphrases, "Blind Date host, what's your name and where d ya come from?" Higgins replied, "Maura Higgins." The new Blind Date will follow the familiar format of contestants choosing between three suitors hidden behind a wall.

Higgins, a former model from County Longford, has recently been cast in the new series of Dancing With the Stars and has also appeared on ITV's This Morning. She will bring a "cheeky, fun, witty, and warm" tone to the revived show, according to Angela Jain, head of content at Disney+ EMEA.