Anna Williamson | Celebs Go Dating 2026

What did you think of the line-up this series?

I love the fact that it's slightly older people that you wouldn't really expect to be on our show. Perhaps they are typically people that we would possibly think that this is not the kind of show for them because they are quite private about their personal lives. And obviously by the very nature of what we do on Celebs Go Dating is we ask everybody to disclose literally everything. So it's been really lovely to see the dynamics. They genuinely want to find out more about themselves. They want to lean into the coaching process as well as the dating process. And that's sort of music to our ears, really

Who has surprised you the most?

Who surprised me the most? I mean, they've all been sort of revelatory in their own ways. I guess speaking as we are today, it would be Lucinda because I wasn't that au fait with Lucinda before this series, but she is, you know, MAFS royalty. And she has delighted me as well as surprised me in the fact that she's very together. What we've experienced with Lucinda, this is the thing, everyone's on their own different timeline when it comes to how things kind of play out and unpack for them. And it's halfway and beyond this series that Lucinda really seems to have shifted in tone and there’s been a lot more unpacking. I had a very emotional moment with her where she really, really did sob and a lot of her inner insecurities, which she's brilliant at masking and faking till she makes it, they really came out. And I think viewers will be so heartened by her sheer vulnerability around what it's like being a woman in your mid-forties, wanting to find a partner, but just finding it so bloody difficult. She has been beautiful in all her ways.

What was it like taking everyone to Tenerife?

I think Tenerife really did seal the deal when it came to their bond. Most groups of celebrities, when we get on the show, do tend to strike up a bond, but naturally not everyone becomes best friends. So it's actually really lovely that the entire group have bonded as one massive team and they've welcomed PK in as well. That's why we're so hugely passionate about what we do on Celebs Go Dating and my role as a coach and an agent, you know, I wouldn't do this show, I wouldn't associate myself with this show if it wasn't the best of what TV can do. In a world that's pretty dark and depressing at the moment, we bring out this light and this warmth and this camaraderie. And I think this cast of celebs have been an absolute antidote for that. They have left off where I'm A Celeb left their last series where it was celebrating warmth and not leaning into conflict. Our celebrities have done exactly that. They have got on like a house on fire and I know that they have all formed firm friendships for life as indeed have we with them.

Has there been a moment watching the dates that has had you belly laughing?

David Potts is just an absolute laugh-a-minute. He's amazing. And some of David's one-liners are mic drop moments, they are spectacular. And I'd say P.K Humble is responsible for giving me a few more grey hairs. He is spicy.

Paul has got tense with celebs in the past, have there been any clashes this time around?

No, I say that man is just radiating pure love this series! He is one of my closest confidants, there's so much love between us for years. So it is like working with my naughty brother. But no, he's been pretty chill this series and I think that's an indicator of how well these celebs are actually doing.

The show has been running for a decade and there’s been 15 series, why do you think the show is still so successful?

I'm really proud of it. I mean, this is my 12th series and it's evolved from its infancy. It still has the bare bones and the wonderful format of how the show started. But I think why it's so successful is because the team that we have on this show, we all get on. It is one of the warmest places I think I've ever worked. And there's no ego around this show. And I think that's what's really important. We are always wanting to push the dial, we're wanting to keep evolving it, but we always stay true to the core of what it is we are doing. Which is, and I think the success being that as agents, as coaches, what we do on the telly is what we do off the telly. We are the real deal. It's what we do, we just happen to do it with celebrities, with cameras, but we are doing the same work outside of that agency. You put in the mix a really great bunch of celebs and we're always interested in celebrities. I think we are more and more interested in self-help and wellbeing, that’s a huge part of what we do. And openness and honesty and vulnerability. We're all looking for love in some way and want to know what the cheat code is, what do I need to do? And through this lens of the show, we are giving everybody a ringside seat to see what take-homes they can do. And then we have Rob Beckett that just brings in one of the best voiceovers in telly. So I think really the richness that we bring and also as a team, myself, Tara, Paul, Tom and Rob on top, we are genuine friends, we have a lot of love for each other, a lot of respect personally and professionally, which allows us to push the boundaries. We are like a steam engine. All of us are pushing forward slowly together as a team. We are united and we want the best for the celebrities, genuinely. We are not there for the pay cheque. We are there to actually do the work. And it's the biggest credit to the show and the execs in the channel for letting us do our jobs pretty much unhindered because the proof is in the pudding. Celebs clamour over themselves to come on the show.

Do you think it can get to series 20 and how would you want to celebrate such a milestone for the show?

Oh, for sure. I think we're growing series on series. It just keeps getting bigger and better and I think it's because we're leaning more and more into the authenticity of what is being reflected in the world around us in the dating and relationship space. I think we have every chance of getting to series 20. And if we do, I think we probably need to hire a really bougie Caribbean villa and camp out there and blow some of the budget on an absolute mega series! I think if we get to series 20, we need to do a mega series and maybe a best of the best celeb version, bring back some of our absolute top 10 celebs for whatever reason and we go for a mega series.

Tom’s back after his jungle stint, is he still just as gorgeous as ever?

Nothing ever can change our Tom from being the amazing man that we know him to be, that everybody saw him on the jungle. He is our king of the jungle, but he's our king of the agency and that's been reflected in a very special plaque this year. He's king of the agency. He’s a dear, dear friend of mine and as always has shown complete humility about his success in the jungle and it's business as usual. We are just so blessed that Tom is back with us. You know, we were like, don't leave us because everybody wants a piece of him after being on I’m A Celeb. But no, he's a humble, wonderful man that's on his own path, his own trajectory and he's undoubtedly one of the best things about the agency.

Ends