TikTok, Tinder swipe right on Double Date Island with Studio 55, Cowshed

Reality dating show Double Date Island

Dating app Tinder, ITV Studios-owned Studio 55 and digital outfit Cowshed Studios are collaborating on an international reality series that will launch soon on social video giant TikTok.

The first season of Double Date Island, produced by Cowshed Studios, co-developed by Studio 55 and distributed by Zoo 55, also part of ITV Studios, will premiere on TikTok this summer.

The series is being made with the support of OMD, Tinder’s agency in EMEA for media strategy, planning and buying.

Double Date Island was initially launched by Tinder last year to tie in with a new feature on the app that allows users to go on double dates together.

The reality dating show sees pairs of best friends selected from the US, Brazil, Australia, the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Germany to go on double dates.

Last year’s edition was filmed in Ibiza and featured a cast of social media creators. This year’s show will be shot in Portugal and Tinder is currently casting single best friend duos, while selected talent will be joining the island as hosts.

Unveiling the deal at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity today, Tinder and TikTok described it as a “landmark strategic partnership that signals a defining moment for the entertainment and dating industries alike.”

Paolo Lorenzoni, VP of marketing for EMEA at Tinder, said: “This partnership is a genuine milestone. Double Date Island on TikTok isn’t just a distribution deal, it’s a shared statement about how two platforms committed to authentic, social-first experiences can come together responsibly to move culture forward. For us, this is a natural next step in bringing our communities more interactive entertainment.”

“Creators are at the heart of how entertainment is discovered, shared and talked about on TikTok, and Double Date Island brings that energy to life in a fresh new way. We’re pleased to be the home for this season series, bringing a new creator-led entertainment format to young adults across Europe. It’s an exciting next step in how new formats can meet audiences where they watch, participate and connect with culture today,” said Kris Boger, regional general manager of UK, Ireland and Benelux business solutions at TikTok.

Will Scougal, executive VP of brand and commercial partnerships at ITV Studios, said: “Double Date Island is exactly the kind of format Studio 55 was built to create: authentic people, genuine connections and a production model designed for the platforms where young adults naturally connect. We’re proud to bring this to life with Tinder and TikTok.”