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The UK's first British Sign Language dating show, 'Hold My Hand', is making waves by bringing deaf culture to mainstream television. Oliver Scott, a 27-year-old from Norwich, is one of the contestants on the show. He grew up in a deaf family, so British Sign Language was his first language. Oliver never felt the need to use a hearing aid or cochlear implant, and he always wondered what it would be like to be on a reality show. He worried about how he would communicate with others, especially since most dating shows are fast-paced and full of drama and gossip. But 'Hold My Hand' gave him a chance to connect with others in a way that felt natural and comfortable.

The show is produced by LumoTV, a streaming platform led by deaf people, and is hosted by deaf identical twins Hermon and Heroda Berhane. The three-part series follows deaf contestants and children of deaf adults as they navigate dating using British Sign Language. The goal is to highlight deaf culture and identity, which is rarely seen on screen. Oliver says the experience was 'refreshing' and allowed him to genuinely get to know the other contestants, while also having fun and sharing jokes. He believes it's important to show that deaf people have different ways of communicating. For example, Tasha Ghouri, who was the first deaf contestant on Love Island, uses a cochlear implant to help her hear. Oliver thinks Tasha is a great representative for people who use cochlear implants, but he wants to see more British Sign Language users in mainstream media.

Oliver hopes that 'Hold My Hand' will help people learn more about the deaf community and challenge some common misconceptions. He says deaf people can be mischievous, cheeky, and have great banter, just like anyone else. Teri Devine, associate director of inclusion for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, says the show is a huge milestone for representation. She believes that seeing someone like yourself on TV can inspire you to believe you can achieve anything. Teri also points out that the environment where a date takes place can make a big difference for deaf people. Quiet and well-lit places help deaf people see their date's face and read their lips, making communication easier. In recent years, there has been more representation of the deaf community on television. Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis became the first deaf contestant to win Strictly Come Dancing and also hosted live sports coverage for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. 'Hold My Hand' is available to stream on LumoTV and YouTube, and it is helping to bring deaf culture and British Sign Language to a wider audience.