We met our husbands on Take Me Out… even though they picked OTHER girls, forgot our first kiss & lost our wedding rings
IT'S the hit dating show that brought together 30 flirty girls and a succession of single lads - and for some contestants, it really was love at first light.
ITV's Take Me Out has been axed after 11 years, but not before producing eight weddings, at least eight babies - and a generation of Brits desperate to visit the Isle of Fernando's.
Proud host Paddy McGuinness joked this week that he'd "better get to the job centre" as he paid tribute to the Saturday night hit that "put dating shows back on the TV map".
And now, the lucky girls who went from 'likeys' and 'lightys' to wifeys thanks to Take Me Out have revealed their own sadness at the "end of an era" that's completely changed their lives.
"I owe the show everything," former contestant Beckie Ryan tells Sun Online. "I would have never met my husband Adam or had our son Indigo. It'll be sorely missed in our household."
It hasn't all been plain sailing - with more than one girl left devastated as their bloke initially picked another lass in front of the nation.
One couple can't even remember their boozy first kiss, while a clumsy fiancée lost her new engagement ring in the sea.
Here, four of Take Me Out's eight brides reveal their remarkable stories...
'I'd never had a boyfriend - now I've got a handsome husband and a beautiful little monkey'
Office PA Robyn Utton, 32, met IT trainer Stuart Smith, 31, on Take Me Out series five in 2013. They're now married with an 11-month-old son, Dylan, and live in Somerset.
Robyn says: "I was bored on my lunch break and watching the show when I filled in an application. I thought nothing of it, but within about two weeks I was on the show.
I never expected to do anything like that. Hand on heart, I did it as a bit of fun. I'd never had a boyfriend or anything like that, I was always too busy being Miss Independent.
Stuart was a really good-looking guy. I never thought in a million years he'd pick me, but I kept my light on anyway. He then picked me and I couldn't believe it!
It was my 25th birthday that day, and I remember ringing Mum and saying, 'I've got a date'!
When we got back from Fernando's, Stu and I stayed in contact.
I'm from Essex and he was just outside of Bristol, so he suggested meeting in London. We thought it'd be really nice to meet up without the cameras.
We went to Winter Wonderland, then when the show was on TV in early 2013, Stu had a party at his house and invited me. The rest, as they say, is history!
We did long distance for two and a half years, then I moved down to Somerset. Stu proposed on Christmas Day 2015 in front of all our family - which was a shock!
We got married in April 2017 at a big manor house, then went on a string of fancy holidays. We did the Maldives for our honeymoon, and a US road trip.
In March last year, we had our beautiful little monkey, Dylan. He's a good baby - he sleeps, eats and loves everything. Stu's such a hands on dad.
Take Me Out brought us together - I think it was fate to be honest.
The best part is Stu didn't want to go on the programme at all - his stepsisters applied on his behalf as a bit of a joke. The fact that we met is just amazing.
It's really sad the show has been cancelled. Being on there was the best two weeks of my life - although one day poor Dylan will have to find out how his parents met!"
'My future husband chose another girl - but it was actually a blessing in disguise'
Part-time personal trainer Adele Vellacott, 39, met Dave Cobain, 36, who works for a cosmetics firm, on series two in 2011. They became the first Take Me Out couple to tie the knot in 2014, and now live in Bristol with their kids, Freddie, six, and Elsie, one.
Adele says: "I'd been single for quite a few years and was stuck in a rut. I wasn't meeting anyone new so I thought I'd try a different direction... Take Me Out!
I thought Dave was a cheeky chappy Essex guy with so much personality and charisma.
It got down to a choice between me and a brunette called Lucy... and he chose Lucy! I was gutted, but you try to put on a brave face because you know everyone is watching.
Of course I said ‘Well done’ to her, but inside I was thinking, ‘Damn it!'
Now, I think it was a blessing in disguise because Dave and I got to know each other as friends. We went to Take Me Out reunions and friends' birthdays.
At the time, I didn't think he liked me in 'that way'. He was being really aloof and laid back. Even my friends were saying, 'He's clearly not interested in you'.
But I was drawn to him. Then, when we were out in Essex one night, we crossed the road to get a taxi and he grabbed my hand. I thought, 'What a manly hand!'
We kissed that night for the first time.
We became official in June 2011, but I wouldn't let Dave move in for a long time really. I was six months pregnant with our son Freddie when he did.
Freddie was born on June 9, 2013, and Dave and I married the following year at a country manor in Monmouthshire, Wales, where I'm from.
Our daughter Elsie came along on five years later.
Before I had Elsie, I wanted to do something for myself, so I did bodybuilding for two years. I lived off celery and fish, and came fourth in Britain in one body fitness competition.
Freddie is now following in my footsteps and loves competing in kickboxing.
He and Elsie are like chalk and cheese: He's very sensitive, she's very feisty. Dave is an amazing dad. He and Freddie do a lot of football together.
Take Me Out's cancellation is the end of an era. If it hadn't been for the show, Dave and I wouldn't have got together - our paths wouldn't have crossed.
I was also hoping that Freddie might go on it one day!
He loves Take Me Out - and we always said to him, 'You'll be on there one day!'."
'We got together at wild end-of-series party - but were too tipsy to remember our first kiss!'
Veterinary clinical director Kerry Beacom, 32, met builder Greig Senior, 37, at the wrap party for series three in 2012. They're now married and live in Norfolk with their son Archie, two, and five-month-old daughter Della.
Kerry says: "I’d just come out of a long relationship and lost a bet with a friend.
I initially had to turn Take Me Out down because you had to be there for three-and-a-half weeks and I was at vet school - but they called me to see if I'd go on for the very end.
I thought, 'Why not? It'll be an experience'.
Greig had been on a few shows before that. He went to Fernando's with a girl called Jo but, while they got on really well, it was more of a friendship than a romance.
We then met at the three-day, end-of-series party in Wales. We hit it off straight away. I thought he was very good-looking and we were drawn to each other.
We kissed for the first time in the pool that night, but embarrassingly neither of us can remember much about it as we were a bit tipsy!
'Time to say goodbye'
TAKE Me Out ran for more than 100 episodes - but channel bosses felt it had "run its course".
The series focused on a single man arriving in the so-called Love Lift, who had to convince 30 girls to keep their lights on for him.
After several rounds, he could choose a girl from those left to take on a date to the Isle of Fernando’s — a fictional location in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife.
The series saw host Paddy McGuinness, 46, coin the catchphrase, “No likey, no lighty!”
An ITV spokesman confirmed this week: "We've decided to say goodbye to Take Me Out."
And a TV source told The Sun: "ITV and Paddy have done all the specials you can eke out of a dating show, so it’s been decided it’s time for it to go.
";As with many shows, ratings have slid a bit in recent years.
"But it will go down as a big success — it’s had more weddings than Blind Date."
We had another meet-up in Newcastle after that, then Greig came over to Ireland to stay on my family's farm. We eventually moved in together in Norfolk.
In December 2013, Greig proposed in the Dominican Republic - but it was a bit of a disaster!
The proposal itself was lovely. He brought me to a clifftop, got out his phone and put on our song - Accidentally In Love, because we'd met through a series of mistakes.
He then went onto his knee and started to cry.
But two days after the proposal, we were in the sea and it was quite stormy. Greig said, 'Does the ring fit', and I was demonstrating how it did, when it slipped off into the water!
It was awful. We got people out with metal detectors, and the scuba guy out, but we couldn't find it. Fortunately, Greig had been sensible enough to get it insured.
We got married in March 2015, and had Paddy catchphrases as the table names, like 'Let the chitty chitty see the bang bang.' It was absolutely brilliant.
The following year, I fell pregnant, but that unfortunately ended in miscarriage. Our son Archie, was born in February 2018, followed by Della last September.
They’re really lovely children. Archie's always cuddling and kissing Della.
I thought two under two was going to be impossible, but it’s been fun.
Greig works very hard and has his own business, and we have three boisterous dogs too.
Take Me Out was a really fun show, but I think it's run its course. There have been quite a few couples to come out of it, so it’s definitely left its mark.
We’re so grateful to the show - there would be no 'us' without it."
'He rejected me for another girl - then admitted he'd made a mistake'
Hairdresser Beckie Finch, 32, met Adam Ryan, 35, the head of an awards competition, on series eight in 2016. They wed in 2017, live in Walton-On-Thames, Surrey, and welcomed son Indigo, one, in April 2018.
Beckie says: "I’d been single for two years when I went on the show.
I was doing a Take Me Out producer's hair when she said I should apply. I said, 'No way', but the following week, the team were in the salon asking me!
My mum said, 'Just go for it, what have you got to lose?' So I did.
Adam was the first person I'd taken an interest in on the show. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for an Essex boy - but he picked someone else!
I was really happy for the girl, Laura - we were all such good friends - though I did stick my bottom lip out a bit. I got picked soon afterwards by another lad anyway.
Adam then messaged me saying he'd made a mistake and said he would like to take me out on a date. I wrote back joking, 'I took my rejection badly, you know!'
He said he'd make it up to me.
A week after I got back from Fernando's, he took me on a date to London.
It was the best date ever: he got me cocktails and took me to see The Play That Goes Wrong.
From then on, we were inseparable.
Six months later, Adam took me back to the same show and proposed to me in front of everyone at the end. Obviously, I said 'yes'! I didn't even look at the ring.
In April 2017, we wed at the same church in Surrey my parents got married at. Then, just a day after our first wedding anniversary, our son Indigo was born.
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We had a bit of a tough ride because Indigo had severe reflux and didn't gain weight. We were in and out of hospital, and there were a lot of tears, worry and sleepless nights.
But it's made us completely inseparable now - Adam and I went through all that together. Indigo is also thriving, he's above average in everything. I'm so proud of him.
Take Me Out is something we've always curled up on the sofa and watched since our series. I'm sad it's cancelled - it's another family programme that's gone."