I Kissed A Girl Season 2: "It has been incredible!"
The final two episodes of the second season of the queer dating show have now dropped - and Hits Radio Pride has been catching up with some of the cast
Last updated 6 hours ago
As the second (and final ever) season of the hit dating series, I Kissed A Girl, wraps up, three of those who chose to make the Masseria their home to have a 'summer of love' have been catching-up with Hits Radio Pride.
The iconic show has once again brought back pop icon and huge LGBT+ ally Dannii Minogue as the host - and don't worry... there are no spoilers here!
Read more: 'It broke boundaries': LGBTQ+ dating show shelved amid funding challenges
'Get ready for Masseria Mania!'
Ahead of filming the new show, Dannii said she just couldn't wait to watch the sizzling drama, explosive interactions, and head-turning moments happen once again.
She added: "I Kissed A Girl was full of heart and groundbreaking for female representation on TV.
"The fans loved the fun, the passion and the drama.
"I can't wait for the return of the girls - let’s see what the heat of the Italian sun does for kisses and connections.
"It is sure to get sparks flying. I am ready to be cupid once again - get ready for the Masseria Mania!"
The show - which is a part of the successful 'I Kissed…' franchise, which has already announced its cancellation, has been celebrated for its unique format and cultural impact, for being the first UK dating series aimed at queer women, adding a new dimension to mainstream television.
Read more: 'It Started With a Kiss' podcast delves into modern queer dating
The series - which is designed to instantly test the pairs' chemistry with a simple kiss - has garnered critical acclaim and won Best Media Moment at the DIVA awards, becoming a cultural touchstone, whilst delivering drama, breaking stereotypes, and offering exciting twists.
'A delirious state of queer happiness'
They've certainly been turning-up the heat, for what's been a heart-racing, heart-breaking hot girl queer summer!
Kayleigh McCarthy from Coventry, Elisha Davies from Carmarthenshire, and Pippa Palmer from St Albans have all been catching up with Hits Radio Pride about their experience as the sparks flew under the hot Italian sun.
"I can't lie, watching the show back, it almost feels less real," Kayleigh revealed, ahead of what promises to be an exciting finale.
She's been describing her pride to represent a place where people don’t usually explore being queer - and has used her experience in the steamy Masseria to rep her home town.
Kayleigh said: "I'm seeing the show now through this beautiful lens, and I'm also on the edge of my seat at the bits I wasn't there for - so right now, I really am in this delirious state of just queer happiness.
"Everyone in the show is so tight knit, too, and it's been so lovely coming out of the Masseria, because we've all just been supporting each other.
"Looking at when I was growing up, and looking at that place now, there's probably a lot of girls like me, from Coventry, who didn't have that community around them, and didn't have many queer people representing them.
"I've had a lot of messages from my Cov girls saying just how insane it is to see my part of the world mentioned on-screen.
"Even if I wasn't on the show, I'd say it's crazy to see Coventry mentioned, because you never really see it - especially when it comes to the queer scene.
"So I'm proud to put that place on the map!"
'It is so nice to have that representation'
Entering in Episode Two, Kayleigh might not have been one of the first to get into the Masseria, but for them all, they've been revealing how their shared experience has created such strong bonds between them.
One of those who did make an appearance, though, in Episode One was Elisha, who's described the difficulties of growing up queer in Carmarthenshire - a place that's so different to the scene you'll see in the big cities.
Elisha said: "We recorded the show last year, so watching it all back really doesn't feel like it was me, you know?
"We've had to keep such a big part of our lives a secret for so long, so it's absolutely crazy to see it all come together on-screen.
"There's so much chaos, there's so much drama, and everyone's so passionate, but because we've all had that same experience, as a cast, we really have all just bonded so, so much.
"Back home, in Carmarthenshire, there's definitely not a queer scene, and it wasn't much better when I moved to Swansea when I was 12, with the bars tailored more to gay men - which, not going to lie, I did love!
"I remember being in secondary school, and wondering what was wrong with me, because all of my peers started liking boys, and I never felt like that.
"Their perception of me will be so different now compared to how I was back then, because I was so shy.
"But I think it is so nice to have that representation from such a small valley, where everyone genuinely knows each other.
"All of my friends and their parents have been watching the show, which has been incredible!"
'It was just insane'
One of the bombshells of the series, late arrival Pippa, has been reflecting on their experience in the Italian sunshine, and explained how their childhood, spending years at boarding school, meant the idea of coming out as gay wasn't even on their radar.
However, Pippa also unveiled how being introduced in the fourth episode was also a bit of a blessing in disguise.
"When I had to walk in on my own, it was scary, but when I found out I didn't have to do that kiss, I was quite relieved, as that was the part I was most scared of," they told Hits Radio Pride.
"Just being in a beautiful hot country, playing games in the pool at the Masseria, and having these amazing conversations under the beating sun whilst being surrounded by so many sexy queer people was just insane.
"I did grow up in St Albans, but growing up in boarding school was two different experiences, really.
"It's ended up now, that everyone I meet in Hertfordshire, half of them turn out to be gay, which is so bizarre.
"When I was there, I didn't know anyone who was gay - and I definitely didn't meet anyone else that was gay either when I was at boarding school.
"It was definitely a very confusing upbringing.
"When I moved to East London, that was when I finally was able to explore my queer side, and it's definitely helped me embrace my real identity.
"You're just surrounded by so many queer people, and that's really where I've felt the most confident in myself."
'It has shone a light on what it's really like on the LGBTQ+ dating scene'
At the announcement of the new series last year, Dan Gray, Executive Producer at Twofour said: "We are very proud and grateful to grow the wonderful world of I Kissed...
"The latest cast of boys have lit up our screens and we're extremely excited for the return of I Kissed a Girl - no doubt, their rollercoaster of romance will be a thrilling watch."
Fiona Campbell, Controller for Youth Audiences, BBC Three and BBC iPlayer added: “I Kissed A Girl will follow our brilliant second series of I Kissed A Boy, which has shone a light on what it’s really like on the LGBTQ+ dating scene across the UK.
"The boys opened up and let the audiences in to some really vulnerable parts of themselves which made audiences fall in love with them.
"The girls brought their A game for the first series of I Kissed A Girl, creating a social buzz and stand out moments so to bring it back for another series means audiences can expect even more iconic, memorable moments and one hot Summer!”