tech
February 11, 2026
‘Deaf people can’t hide behind words!’ Inside the first ever dating show to use British Sign Language
Hold My Hand focuses exclusively on signers – who can be refreshingly blunt and extremely revealing. Heroda and Hermon Berhane, the deaf identical twin presenters, say it reveals their community in a way never seen before
TL;DR
- Hold My Hand is the first dating show to exclusively feature British Sign Language (BSL).
- Deaf identical twin presenters Hermon and Heroda Berhane aim to reveal deaf culture and identity, challenging stereotypes.
- The show highlights that 71% of young adults feel unconfident dating someone who uses BSL as their primary language.
- BSL is presented as another language and world to be curious about, with deaf individuals often perceived as more open and vulnerable.
- Contestants are either deaf or children of deaf adults (Codas).
- The series includes an episode dedicated to LGBT+ singletons and features rounds like 'this or that' and matching lube and lingerie.
- Producers believe the show has 'huge mainstream potential' and aims to flip the script on how BSL is treated in entertainment.
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