SVT commissions original dating format in sign language from Banijay Factory

Sexy Hands was created by Robert Andersson

MIPCOM: Swedish public broadcaster SVT has commissioned a new dating reality format for deaf singletons from Banijay Factory, a Nordic arm of European production giant Banijay.

Sexy Hands, developed by Banijay Factory and produced locally by Delta Studios, features deaf people and their hearing allies who can’t see each other physically, apart from their hands, and use sign language to determine whether there is a romantic connection.

In the show, three potential suitors compete to win the affection of one single person. Separated by the studio’s ‘love wall,’ with just their hands poking through, they must rely on sign to make a first impression, chat and flirt in a series of rounds.

Robert Andersson, senior format developer at Banijay Factory and creator of Sexy Hands, said: “We’re proud to be playing a small part in making pop culture more inclusive and diverse. Sexy Hands is a fast-paced, visually captivating, fun and literally loud blind-dating format where both deaf and hearing sign language-savvy singles come looking for love.

“It is a new spin on the popular dating genre, but also the first of its kind to place sign language on equal footing with the spoken word.”

Sexy Hands joins a burgeoning slate at Banijay Factory, which has already developed Food & Fire alongside Mastiff Sweden and Expedition Kahawa with Jarowskij.

It also adds to Banijay Nordic’s entertainment formats, which include Mastiff Denmark’s Drag Me Out, and forms part of Banijay’s international distribution slate at Mipcom this week.