This is the Love Experiment
Stream the full series on RTÉ Player.
This brand-new four-part series is a dating show based around a social experiment designed by psychologist, Dr Arthur Aron back in the 1990s.
The experiment is built around 36 questions to fall in love. The idea is that a set of questions, which gradually promote intimacy, can create the conditions for love! In the series, this set of questions is followed by a four-minute stare.
The Love Experiment is a brand-new show where two strangers are paired together to ask each other a series of questions that scientific studies suggest can lead to love. As the experiment progresses the questions become more intimate, in the hopes of establishing a connection between the pair. The experiment takes place in The Love lab – no frills, no distractions, just two people and 36 questions.
There are eight couples across the series. Two strangers ask each other a series of questions designed to test compatibility, cutting out the small talk to go a bit deeper.
The series is 4 half hours featuring a variety of contributors.
The Love Experiment episodes 1-4 will be available to stream on the RTÉ Player after episode one airs tonight at 9.35pm on RTÉ2.
Episode 1
In the first episode we meet Shannel Lynch and Jason Garvey
Shannel Lynch is a 30 year old mother of two from Dublin. Although she grew up in foster care ( fostered by a family member) she had a strong bond with her own mother, who had an untimely death when Shannel was in her 20s.
Jason Garvey, 33, is a father of 2 from Clondalkin. His kids are his life and he has done a lot of work on himself, including counselling, to make sure he is the best father he can be. Outside of that he is into tech and has a podcast.
Mairéad McDevitt from Dublin, is a community and youth worker, with a strong passion for human rights. She loves sitting down having deep conversations with people, so the Love Experiment was the perfect fit for her. She is open and honest throughout the process, sharing some very personal details of her life.
Jonathan Kaufmann is an American living in Dublin for the last number of years. He works for a large corporate company and in his down time enjoys trying his hand at stand up, which hasn’t always gone so well, but he’s always willing to give it another go!
Contributors in later episodes:
Brodie Thompson is a 31 year old from New Zealand who has been living in Ireland for the last few years. She dates both men and women and describes her family set up as blended and unconventional as her parents separated when she was 5.
Hasan Sinanovic, 38, from Ashbourne has been living in Ireland since he was 8. He was born in Bosnia and came here to escape the war there. His mother had died when he was 4 so he came to Ireland with his granny, aunt and uncle.
John Morley, from Mayo, works as a journalist with Mid west radio. He is a self proclaimed GAA obsessive. His most treasured memory is seeing his little sister have a successful transplant operation one Christmas eve.
Egle Valionyte, is originally from Lithuania and has been living in Meath for over 15 years. She is a rap artist (with her twin sister) and has recently launched her own clothes range.
Jackie McCarthy, 60, grew up in Limerick. Her mother had her out of wedlock and Jackie ended up in an industrial school for a few years before her mother and step father were able to get her back. Growing up of mixed race in the Ireland of that time wasn’t always easy for Jackie but she went on to forge an incredibly successful sports career and now runs her own Painting/decorating business.
Justine Reilly is in her mid 50s and lives in Dublin. Born in a mother and baby home, Justine has dealt with adversary in her life but has come so far and has an eclectic mix of interests, from acting to stand up and mothering her two beloved dogs.
Grainne Loftus, mid 20s, is from Mayo, living in Dublin. She is from a GAA stronghold, with her Grand uncle being the last surviving member of the 1951 Mayo team. The death of her father when she was 16 has been the most life changing moment in her life so far.
Episode 1 begins on Thursday 10th November on RTÉ2 at 9.35pm
Stream the full series on RTÉ Player.