Don’t Tell the Bride, Sky One: what’s changed from BBC Three, and what’s the same?

The beloved reality wedding show is back – but has its new home mixed things up?
Explosive: Don't Tell the Bride is back to make sparks fly on Sky One
Sky
Ben Travis21 July 2016

When BBC Three announced that it was going online-only, there was one question that sprang to the front of everyone’s minds: what will happen to Don’t Tell The Bride?

The channel nurtured Britain’s most watchable reality show, which tasks hapless grooms with planning an entire wedding on a sharp budget in just three weeks – with no input at all from their bride-to-be.

Thankfully, Sky One stepped in to take on the series – and now we have Series 12 to look forward to over the coming weeks.

But have Sky changed the formula? And will it still be as good? Here’s what you need to know.

What’s different?

1) The money’s increased

Originally, BBC Three handed out £12,000 to the nearly-newlyweds to plan the Big Day – money which has to cover the cost of the venue, the dress, catering, ridiculous props, gimmicky ideas, and stag and hen dos.

As with the short BBC One series last year, Sky One has slightly increased the budget to £14,000. That’s a whole £2000 extra to make terrible choices with!

2) The title sequence is slightly different

If you’ve watched more than your fair share of Don’t Tell the Bride (don’t lie to yourself), you’ll notice that the opening credits sequence has been given a slightly new look – though the basic gist remains.

Bride and groom figures on a wedding cake? Check. Shiny plastic animation? Check. Welcome home.

3) Erm, anything else?

Well, that’s basically it – pretty much everything else is exactly as you remember.

Sky

What’s the same, then?

1) It’s still a three week limit

It’s not just the cash that restricts the grooms on the show – they only have three weeks to get everything in place, surely fuelling some of the ridiculous choices they make along the way.

It’s enough time to just about get everything done, but with no margin for error.

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2) The groom still makes bafflingly terrible decisions

Did you watch most of the BBC Three series screaming ‘NO NO NO’ through your fingers? Of course you did – Don’t Tell the Bride wouldn’t be the same without the grooms constantly thinking the very worst things, the cheapest dresses and dingiest venues were the greatest ideas they’ve ever comeup with.

3) The bride still immediately regrets her choice to go on the show

Two minutes after leaving their partners behind for three weeks, every single bride has the same reaction: “The reality’s just hit me about him doing all of this on his own. He’ll do a great job, he knows me really well. Right? Right? Oh god, what have I done?!”

Sky

4) There are still floods of tears

When the bride tries on the dress she wants? Tears. When she tries on the dress she’s been given? Tears. When she realises she’s going to have the most bonkers wedding ever devised? Tears.

When the groom realises he’s messed it all up? Tears. When he gets an earful down the phone from his future mother in law? Tears.

When both the bride and groom realise that their wedding has been totally bizarre but they still love each other? All the tears.

So, don’t you worry – Don’t Tell the Bride is basically exactly the same as it’s always been. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sky One, 9pm

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