SBS Orders The Matchmakers

SBS has commissioned the observational documentary series The Matchmakers, which is to be produced by BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand.

The series follows three matchmakers from Jewish, Muslim and Hindu cultures as they help singles navigate the dating process, from first dates, awkward family meetings and sensitive negotiations to the final resolution—a rejection or a wedding.

The Matchmakers is scheduled to air on SBS in 2023. BBC Studios will distribute the series internationally.

Kylie Washington, general manager and creative director of production at BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand, said: “This is the second original series from the team and is a heartwarming yet confronting show that rewrites the book of love. With individual choice and preference heavily embedded in the process, the series explores family expectations and life ambitions against a backdrop of cultural expectations. With high rates of marriage failure in Australia, this series asks, Can more be learned from an approach that refuses to leave love to chance alone?”

SBS’s head of documentaries, Joseph Maxwell, said: “The world of matchmaking is intriguing and entertaining and delivers unexpected stories about love. It’s also a brilliant window into modern multicultural marriage and families around Australia.”