Stranded on Honeymoon Island could pose major problem for Channel 7: 'Nothing feels real'

Stranded on Honeymoon Island is still several weeks away from premiering (an official date is yet to be announced) but hopes are high for the series that has been slated to "rival Married at First Sight." The reality series, narrated by Jackie O Henderson, will see 12 singles who have been unlucky in love trying to turn their romantic lives around.

The show begins with a speed dating event where participants will be paired off and “marry” each other, but instead of being whisked away on a nice honeymoon, they will be dropped on a remote island in the South Pacific with nothing but their wedding attire. They'll remain on the island for three weeks as they get to know each other, with Channel Seven describing the concept as removing people from “all modern dating obstacles, with no devices, no distractions, and nowhere to hide”.

However, there's one big issue with the series that could prove to be a major obstacle when it comes to ratings.

“The couples won’t be together in real-time for them to follow the love story on socials," an insider exclusively revealed to Yahoo Lifestyle.

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“So many of these shows are filmed months and sometimes even a year in advance," the insider continues. "Which deprives audiences from investing in the real love stories.”

This is because the show has been "in the can" for a year - quite different from other reality shows with a much tighter turnaround and therefore a higher probability that couples will still be together while the show is airing.

MAFS, for example, finishes filming in December and starts on Channel Nine in January, so many of the stories are still in full swing when the show airs, therefore making the viewing experience feel more real and entertaining.

"The MAFS participants who are still in relationships are the only ones we are really still talking about," our insider says. "Even someone as bright as Lucinda Light doesn't have the longevity if there isn't something juicy for us to follow."

They continue, "It goes back to the popularity of the Royals - people feel invested in famous people's lives and they want to know all the minute details - stuff they can find online. The nuggets that can gossip about with their friends. Audiences want more from free to air and it would seem we are giving them less.”

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With viewers becoming wiser to the various editing tricks and storyline "coaxing" that most reality shows employ to keep them engaged, it's no wonder that fans are becoming more desperate for authenticity on their screens.

Says our insider, "Nothing feels real anymore and that is because it isn't!"

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