A new Channel 4 series will explore what happens when love faces prejudice so strong that it threatens to tear relationships apart.
Bride and Prejudice follows six soon-to-be wed couples as they confront a deeply held opposition to their marriage from within their own families – all while trying to organise their weddings.
Each couple that appears on the show faces opposition from at least one family member who is dead set against their wedding ever taking place.
In the first episode viewers meet a 24-year-old politics student named Dee, from Hull, who is weeks away from marrying local councillor John, who at 59, is 35 years her senior.
The series also follows builder Rob, 38, from Cambridgeshire, who wants to know why his parents seem to have taken no interest in his wedding to 31-year old events manager Simon, and 23-year-old graduates Shaaba and Jamie from Colchester who are recently engaged, despite intense opposition from Shaaba’s mum.
John, 59, and Dee, 24, face strong opposition from her family who think the age-gap between the pair is odd
Politics student Dee sees no problem with her age and says that ‘it shouldn’t matter if people really care about each other’
The five-part series follows the couples in what should be one of the most exciting times in their lives – the build up to their wedding days.
But while most couples worry about the playlist and the seating plan, these couples are also desperately striving for the support of their loved ones.
Dee’s grandfather, Paul, who helped raise her, is just eight years older than John and has never been able to comprehend their relationship.
The bride-to-be is desperately seeking the acceptance she craves from her grandfather in time for her big day.
‘Age doesn’t matter if two people really care about each other,’ Dee says ahead of her wedding day.
The series will leave viewers to wait until each of the couples’ respective wedding days to find out whether their relatives were won over, and set aside their disapproval to celebrate as a family.
The documentary follows the couple as they prepare for their big day while managing their family members
Dee hopes that her own grandfather will give her the acceptance she craves, but at eight years older than John he has concerns
Shaaba and Jamie, 23- year old graduates from Colchester, have to battle with her mother Fai who objects to her marriage
For Shaaba’s mum Fai, her daughter’s choice of partner is far from ideal.
Brought up in a traditional Mauritian household, Fai had always dreamed Shaaba would marry someone from a similar cultural background.
And this isn’t the only reason why Fai objects to her daughter’s relationship, who can be heard saying in a trailer for the show: ‘I don’t mean to be racist, but obviously he’s white.’
Builder Rob, 38, (right) from Cambridgeshire, wants to know why his parents seem to have taken no interest in his wedding to 31-year old events manager Simon
Meanwhile Rob’s parents seem to have taken no interest in his wedding to 31-year old events manager Simon.
His parents have always struggled with him being gay and avoided any talk of his sexuality.
His mother said: ‘Never did we think they would get married, we always thought they would just be a couple of gays.’
But with the wedding looming, and Rob determined to get his parents on side, he’s getting them to confront the issue for the first time.
With the couple waiting to make their vows, will the objecting family turn up or stay away?
Bride and Prejudice starts on Channel 4 on Tuesday June 5th at 9pm