But after first being teased all the way back in 2016, and then following a nationwide casting call for people looking to expose online love interests who may not be telling the full truth that was announced October 2020, the first ever UK spin-off of the smash hit reality MTV show Catfish is set to hit our screens next month.
A one-minute teaser clip for the new series has been shared with the show’s fans on social media last week, and it’s already got people talking.
The original US-made Catfish: The TV Show – which first aired back in 2012, after a documentary of the same name – sees documentary maker Nev Shulman meet individuals from across the country who have fallen in love online, only to grow suspicious when the target of their affections refuse to meet in real life.
The show has undeniably proved popular with viewers worldwide over its eight seasons on air, hence why a spin-off is on the way.
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But what can we actually expect from the UK version when the new series starts?
Here’s everything we know so far.
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What is Catfish UK: The TV Show?
Catfish UK: The TV Show is the UK spin-off of the US original documentary and MTV series of the same name, and it’s set to air on MTV UK next month, with a run of four, hour-long episodes being broadcast at first, before continuing with a further six episodes later this year.
Unfamiliar with what a ‘catfish’ is?
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A popular term on the internet, a ‘catfish’ is someone who creates fake personal profiles on social sites using someone else’s pictures and false biographical information to pretend to be someone else.
These ‘catfish’ usually intend to trick an unsuspecting person or more into falling in love with them.
The term is believed to have derived from the title of the previously-mentioned 2010 documentary, in which filmmaker Schulman discovers that the woman with whom he’d been carrying on an online relationship had not been honest in describing herself.
Who are the hosts?
MTV / Catfish UK: The TV Show
Although the US hosts, Nev Shulman and Kamie Crawford, have been a big part of the promotion and casting process of the show, they will not be making the trip overseas to front the UK spin-off and have instead handed the reins over to former Apple Music Beats 1 presenter, Julie Adenuga, and journalist / author and documentary filmmaker, Oobah Bulter.
“As someone who has spent the most part of my career in the bubble of music and entertainment, Catfish UK is my first chance to connect with people in a completely different way, which is really exciting for me.” Julie Adenuga explained.
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“The show is about vulnerability, empathy… and drama. Rule #1 – expect the un-expected”.
Oobah Bulter added: It’s wild to me that the person who learned about the internet and deception by watching Catfish with his five brothers and sisters gets to be a part of its latest chapter.
“We live in a moment where everybody’s lives have moved online.
“I can’t wait to travel around the country, meet people, and use the tools I’ve developed making documentaries, to help them and better understand what it is about society that drives people to feel so inadequate that they cannot be themselves.”
Will there be any Mancs on the new series?
Although the one-minute teaser trailer clip for the series appears to show the new hosts reacting to various relationship revelations – including “an affair” and a “criminal” dater – it is yet to be announced who will be featured on the new series and what their circumstances will be, but given the fact that a UK-wide casting call was opened last October, we can expect to hear stories from people all across the country.
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The casting call asked anyone over 18 years of age who suspects they’re “in love with, speaking to, or are just friends with someone who may be a Catfish” to get in touch.
Mancunians were urged by MTV to get involved, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
When will it air?
Aside from it being revealed that it is to air from next month, no exact start date for the show has been confirmed by MTV UK at this moment in time, with the latest teaser clip for the show simply announcing that it will be “coming soon”.
Fans are being encouraged to “watch this space”.
You can keep up to date with Catfish UK: The TV Show on Facebook and Twitter.
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Morrissey claims sole credit for The Smiths’ iconic Salford Lads’ Club photo shoot idea
Danny Jones
Morrissey is once again raising the issue of credit and disputes over The Smiths’ legacy, as the controversial former frontman has now claimed that their iconic photo shoot outside of Salford Lads’ Club was entirely his idea.
The 66-year-old lead singer turned solo star from Urmston is no stranger to sparking debates and attracting controversy, and it seems his latest is to do with one of the most iconic images in British music history, let alone just Greater Manchester.
The Davyhulme-born bard and divisive artist goes on to claim that the other co-founding members of the iconic Manc band initially viewed as more of his “lunacy” – the suggestion seemingly being (as it often is with Morrissey) that they simply didn’t understand the ‘genius’ at the time.
Many of his most die-hard fans still believe that most don’t and never will.
He even jokes that, in another life, it could very well have been something entirely different and random, such as the Kellogg’s factory in Trafford, basically suggesting that other members would have simply followed suit.
In his words, he argues that “now millions of people come from all over the world to be photographed on that very spot, it is claimed as a Smiths idea. It wasn’t, it isn’t, and it never shall be.”
Once again, this is by no means the first time he’s called into question, ‘who did what’ and/or who owns what bit of intellectual property; in fact, there was apparently another one of these instances with Johnny Marr only recently.
‘Moz’ and Marr have been at loggerheads pretty much ever since the group disbanded back in 1987, and still look to be far away from seeing eye to eye on virtually anything.
Kobbie Mainoo’s new Manchester United contract is edging closer
Danny Jones
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo’s new contract is creeping ever closer, manager Michael Carrick has suggested.
Ahead of Man United playing their first game in 24 days, supporters will take any positive news they can get, with the club having now shared the update regarding Mainoo extending his stay.
Following Carrick’s pre-match press conference before Monday night’s clash against old rivals, Leeds United, the Red Devils boss intimated that things are moving in the right direction, though he wouldn’t give any categorical confirmation whether or not a full agreement has been reached quite yet.
Here’s what he had to say:
"At the moment, we're in a good place."
A promising update on Kobbie's contract situation ⬇️
“Obviously, we’d like to think so, yeah, and it’s getting closer, so we’re positive with that”, said the 44-year-old coach.
He went on to add: “We’re calm with it, but we’re positive with it. Time will tell how it goes, but at the moment we’re in a good place with it.” You can hear his full response on the matter in the second part of his most recent presser right HERE.
As per multiple outlets earlier this month, Mainoo’s is reportedly set to see a huge increase in his salary if the numbers are to be believed.
Compared to the current £25,000 a week he is currently earning – staggering sums, sure, but a drop in the ocean when it comes to football money – he is set to earn nearly five times that amount if/when new terms are finalised.
It looked as though the Stockport-born academy product England prospect was on the verge of leaving under Ruben Amorim, as he somehow struggled to get into the side; now, though, it’s safe to say he looks to be steadily getting back on track under the former United midfielder.
With a rumoured £120k weekly package, this will see the 20-year-old earn a much more competitive wage that’s arguably more on a par with his teammates.
As not only one of their promising youth products but also already perceived to be one of their most talented first-team stars (making his senior debut in January 2023), many would argue that the extension of the present deal, which runs until 2027, is long overdue.
Said to be on the verge of penning the new contract, which is expected to see him stay until at least 2031, an official announcement would come as an added bonus for fans should they return to the pitch with a win over Leeds.
As for other transfer business, Man United have been linked with yet another midfielder ahead of the incoming summer window – though this one would be a more offensive and perhaps ambitious bit of recruitment…
Emily Sergeant -
15th March 2021 
