View source for Girlfriends (2012 TV series)

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox television
| image        =
| genre        = [[Reality television|Reality]]
| presenter    = [[Emma Willis]]
| country      = United Kingdom
| language     = English
| num_series   = 2
| num_episodes = 16
| runtime      = 60 minutes <small>(inc. adverts)</small>
| company      = [[Studio Lambert]]
| channel      = [[ITV2]]
| first_aired  = {{start date|2012|9|26|df=yes}}
| last_aired   = {{end date|2013|10|2|df=yes}}
}}
'''''Girlfriends''''' is a British [[reality television]] show presented by [[Emma Willis]] that began airing on [[ITV2]] in 2012. A second series was aired in autumn 2013, each series features three single young women looking for [[love]].
==Background==
The ''Girlfriends'' reality TV series is based on a format developed by [[Israel]]'s Keshet Media Group, first broadcast in Israel in October 2011. In the UK the format is produced by [[Studio Lambert]] and broadcast by [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s digital channel, [[ITV2]].<ref name="THR Season 2">{{cite news|last=Kemp|first=Stuart|title=Britain's ITV Orders 'Girlfriends' Season Two|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=29 January 2013|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/britains-itv-orders-girlfriends-season-416313|access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref> An [[3 (TV series)|American version]] was aired briefly in July 2012 on [[CBS]], however was pulled from the schedule following low ratings for its first two episodes.
===Plot===
Three single women (the 'girlfriends') each try to find the ideal man, with 100 single men to choose from. The girlfriends share a large house for the duration of the series. The first part of the series is an audition format where the 100 men introduce themselves in turn to the three women in the house. The girlfriends decide between them whether either (or two, or all) of them would like to see the man again.<ref name="Guardian 2013">{{cite news|last=Heritage|first=Stuart|title=Girlfriends: a dating show that offers more than the first rush of infatuation|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=11 September 2013|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2013/sep/11/girlfriends-dating-show-marriage-pregnancy|access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref> They each choose a total of six men they would like to see again.<ref name="Reveal TV pick">{{cite news|last=Crawford|first=Carena|title=Wednesday's TV pick: Girlfri3nds|work=Reveal.co.uk|date=26 September 2012|url=http://www.reveal.co.uk/lifestyle/news/a407443/wednesdays-tv-pick-girlfri3nds.html|access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref>
The second part of the series sees the girlfriends go on dates with the men. The dates become longer, allowing the women the opportunity to decide who they want to visit for a 24-hour date in the man's home town and, finally, whether they want to invite any of the final dates back to their hometown to meet their parents.
The 2012 and 2013 series were hosted by TV presenter, [[Emma Willis]].<ref name="Reveal TV pick" />
==The Girlfriends==
===Series 1===
The three women looking for love in Series 1 were Laura, Amy and mother of one, Sarah.<ref name="Metro 2012">{{cite news|title=Girlfri3nds saw three nice girls take part in a very tawdry project|work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|The Metro]]|date=26 September 2012|url=http://metro.co.uk/2012/09/26/girlfri3nds-series-1-episode-1-tv-review-585978/|access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref>
Laura ultimately chose a Frenchman called Ken. Amy chose 'cheeky' Charlie.<ref name="Studentmag Sarah">{{cite news|title=Sarah Taylor – From iTv2 Girlfri3nds (interview) |work=The Student Magazine (Sheffield) |date=14 December 2012 |url=http://www.thestudentmag.co.uk/sarah-taylor-from-itv2-girlfri3nds/ |access-date=28 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023152838/http://www.thestudentmag.co.uk/sarah-taylor-from-itv2-girlfri3nds/ |archive-date=23 October 2013 }}</ref> Sarah Taylor chose footballer Danny Wisker, but admitted she never saw him again and discovered he had participated in other reality shows<ref name="Studentmag Sarah" /> such as TOWIE.
===Series 2===
;Ruby Perry
A 20-year-old from the [[Bransholme]] area of [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], who had spent the previous 12 months travelling around the world.<ref name="Hulls Ruby">{{cite news|title=Will Hull's Ruby find love on ITV's Girlfriends?|work=Hull Daily Mail|date=14 August 2013|url=http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-s-Ruby-love-ITV-s-Girlfriends/story-19656010-detail/story.html|access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref>
;Sophia Gowland
A 23-year-old [[business management]] graduate and account manager from [[Hemlington]], [[Middlesbrough]].<ref name="Middlesbrough girl">{{cite news|last=Woodcock|first=Laura|title=Girlfriends on ITV2: Middlesbrough girl hopes to find love on show |work=[[Evening Gazette (Teesside)|Evening Gazette]] (Teesside)|date=6 September 2013|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/girlfriends-itv2-middlesbrough-girl-hopes-5846311|access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref>
;Melissa Travis
A 26-year-old [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] fan from [[Sale, Greater Manchester]].<ref name="Sale resident stars">{{cite news|last=Banks|first=Kate|title=Sale resident stars in ITV2 show Girlfriends|work=Sale Messenger|date=21 August 2013|url=http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/whereyoulive/sale/10624769.Sale_resident_stars_in_ITV2_show_Girlfriends/|access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref>
==Reception==
===Viewing figures===
The 2012 series of ''Girlfriends'' had an average viewing figures of 445,000 viewers (1.7% of the available total), with a peak of 552,000 for the final programme on 17 November.<ref name="THR Season 2" />
===Media criticism===
Reaction from TV critics was generally mixed. Of the first series ''[[Metro (British newspaper)|The Metro]]'' described it as "too ITV2 to yield classy results" and "felt pretty sleazy and not at all in line with the romantic vibe".<ref name="Metro 2012" /> Stuart Heritage in ''[[The Guardian]]'' admitted that the series showed the viewer far more than any previous dating show, from "the first rush of infatuation [to] the indecision and jealousy and awkwardness that inevitably follows",<ref name="Guardian 2013" /> but concluded that the girls have "too much choice. The audition round has conditioned them to nitpick, to always expect that something better is around the corner. Clearly this isn't the case for most of us. We don't all have 100 attractive would-be lovers prepared to backflip for our affections".<ref name="Guardian 2013" />
==Transmissions==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Series !! Start date !! End date !! Episodes
|-
| {{center|'''1'''}} || {{center|26 September 2012}} || {{center|14 November 2012<ref name="THR Season 2" />}} || {{center|8}}
|-
| {{center|'''2'''}} || {{center|14 August 2013<ref name="Hulls Ruby" />}} || {{center|2 October 2013}} || {{center|8}}
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{IMDb title|id=2425622|title=Girlfriends}}
*{{UKGameshow|Girlfri3nds}}
*{{itv.com|id=girlfiends|title=''Girlfriends''}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Girlfriends}}
[[Category:2012 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:2013 British television series endings]]
[[Category:2010s British reality television series]]
[[Category:2010s British romance television series]]
[[Category:British dating and relationship reality television series]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:ITV reality television shows]]
[[Category:International television series based on Israeli television series]]
[[Category:Television series by All3Media]]