A young man from Birmingham is to appear on brand new Sky Living show The Love Machine this week as he attempts to select a romantic partner and go on a date, with the whole audience watching.
Omar Elkaseh, a 20-year-old batchelor from Birmingham, appears on the second episode of the highly-hyped series, due to be broadcast this weekend.
The game show, which follows in the vain of ITV’s Take Me Out and Channel 4’s Come Date With Me in a bid to satisfy the insatiable public appetite for quick-and-easy dating formats, sees contestants pick a date from what initially looks like an over-sized phone dial.
In what may resemble a warped combination of Dating in the Dark and Wheel of Fortune, each contestant is given eight spins of the giant wheel, containing silhouettes of potential dates. The wheel then illuminates one of it’s possible partners on every spin, with the contestant being invited to scrutinise, praise or criticise the subject before deciding to ‘ditch or date’.
Although local lad Omar, who performs vocal duties in the band Strangle Kojak, enjoyed the experience; he admitted it was his mates who fixed him up to appear on the show.
“I was lead astray by my friends at work, they set me up to be on it. As I am up for a laugh any time or place, I decided to go along with the experience and see what The Love Machine had in store for me.”
In the show, if a contestant deems the first seven options too hideous to date, he or she must then select the final candidate who remains, regardless of whether they look hot or not.
The newly paired couple are then assessed for compatibility by celebrity hosts Chris Moyles and Stacey Solomon, who continue the charade in a bid for the duo to win extra cash for a holiday together.
“It was very nerve wracking at first, as I am not used to having a camera filming me when I’m on a date,” explained Omar.
With Sky Living promoting the show as one where contestants “forget chat up lines and awkward introductions – The Love Machine asks its contestants to pick a potential date on looks alone” you’d be forgiven for assuming the format a little vulgar; but Omar feels it’s far from crass.
“I was a picker on the programme so it wasn’t a competitive show. I think I did pretty well as my date went well on the show. The whole experience in general was amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone who is up for being on the show.”
..The Love Machine featuring Omar Elkaseh aires on Sky Living HD on Saturday 17th March, at 7pm and on Sky Living on Sunday 18th March, at 6pm. Watch the preview spoiler of Episode 2 here. Read contestant Omar’s bio here. Images from the show here.
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Adam Yosef
