What TV show has Helen from Stranded on Honeymoon Island been on before? Here's where you recognise her from

When I finished watching the first episode of BBC One’s Stranded on Honeymoon Island, my first thoughts weren’t about how it compared to Married at First Sight as seemed to be the immediate reaction of many other viewers . . . I was wondering why Helen looked so familiar to me.

Then, in a lightbulb moment, I realised. This is not Helen’s first time looking for love on TV. She’s previously been a contestant on beloved ITV dating show Dinner Date - which is sadly now no longer being made.

I’ve delved back in to the ITV archives - thank goodness for online catch up services - and it has helped to refresh my hazy memory. Helen was on Dinner Date in 2016. Back then she was a 26-year-old events company owner and dancer, singer and actress living in Essex. Now, she’s a 35-year-old living in Manchester.

Her type has remained the same over the last nine years, in both shows she described how her perfect woman was “tall, dark and tattooed”. Before applying for a second go at reality TV love, she had been single since the beginning of 2024. On Stranded on Honeymoon Island, viewers have just watched her marry 32-year-old Abby.

It seemed the pair began to struggle, however, after just hours on their deserted island. While making breakfast, Helen said: “Yesterday was, like, such a little dream bubble. And then overnight, and today, it’s like OK, this is reality.”

She told the cameras: “Abby is struggling with this and I think it’s getting her a bit grouchy, it’s getting her a bit moany but it’s day one. So I don’t know; I don’t know if she’s going to stick this out.”

Speaking to her new wife, Helen was then seen asking: “Do you think that you would struggle, like in this experience? Did you think that… Because last night was a lot.” Opening up, Abby admitted: “Yes, it’s hard. I think for me I’m missing my family and I’m missing my friends. I’m definitely learning more things about myself even just from last night’s experience.”

Helen replied: “I feel like that is you, right? So it did kind of shock me this morning when you were like, 'Oh I don’t know, like if I can do this.' You’re making me feel like… like can you?”

Abby tried to reassure her new spouse and said: “No, I do feel like I can. I think I just needed a minute. . .You’ve been great, it’s nothing on you. It’s just me.. You know.. adjusting."

Helen then reassured Abby she would be there for her. No context was given as to what had happened on their first night though, leaving viewers confused. One commented on X: “What went on last night then between the two women? Did we miss something? Sure they were happy on last night's ep.”

Time will tell if Helen and Abby’s relationship works out, but it’s safe to say things didn’t work out for the TV star on Dinner Date. On the popular show, Helen was the picker and chose three women to go on dates with based on their menus alone. She then travelled to their houses for a date where they cooked her a three course meal. After all three dates, she chose one of the ladies to take out for a restaurant meal.

Helen’s three dates were Emilie, Michaela and Laura. In the end, she chose Emilie - which was no surprise as she told the cameras how attracted she was to her and even told Emilie she loved her during their date. Things looked so promising. But, at the end of the episode it was revealed that Helen and Emilie didn’t see each other again and were each dating someone new.

* You can watch Helen in Dinner Date now on ITV X. Look for series 6, episode 22. New episodes of Stranded on Honeymoon Island will air every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm. Watch previous episodes on BBC iPlayer now.