INTERVIEW ............................................................................................................................... .................................................................................. . COVER STORY S


ome people go to church to find their soulmate; others choose pubs, clubs or even their place of work,


but Richard Kay went to the BBC, and was selected from thousands of applicants from various faiths to participate in ‘Strictly Soulmates’, a documentary which could help him to find his soulmate.


For someone like Richard, participating in the programme should have been a familiar experience. He presents his own TV show, The Richard Kay Show, and has interviewed many guests, including Shane Lynch, of hit pop group, Boyzone, and Kelle Bryan, ex-member of successful girl group, Eternal. However nothing could prepare him for the intense connection he would have with the BBC3 production team during the months the programme was in production. He said, “Normally it’s all about my guests. Anyone who comes onto my show becomes my sole focus, but this time it was going to be all about me, and that was a strange feeling to come to terms with.”


During the programme, Richard, 27, took part in different activities, like Christian clubbing and visiting other churches, to engage in the process of finding a soulmate. Over a period of six months, he was subject to the inclusion of the BBC in his personal life, and a camera crew followed him and the other applicants everywhere.


The setup also included Richard being filmed during dates with Christian girls who had the potential of being ‘the one’. Throughout the ups and downs that occurred during the production of Strictly Soulmates, Richard has formed some good friendships since filming has finished. He is happy that he has been able to challenge people to look deeper into the relationship process, and to consider all the options available to a person when considering their future partner.


There was some initial concern about Richard’s participation on the programme, and he received a mixed reaction from his friends and peers. He didn’t want the programme to give people the wrong impression about him, or to jeopardise


realityTV


Finding love on


Richard Kay’s search for a life partner was featured on the BBC3 series ‘Strictly Soulmates’. He talks to Lori Powell about


the experience and his forthcoming tour to share the ups and downs of being in the media spotlight


his relationship with his local church and his employer at the time. However, the flip side of the coin was that this would be a fantastic opportunity, and that many doors could be opened as a result of his participation.


With the support of Hillsong London, his local church, Richard decided to take control of his own destiny and go all out for the show. From then on, there was no looking back.


When asked about his time during the filming of the programme, Richard said, “It was an interesting and phenomenal experience. I learned a lot about myself and how I respond to intense situations. The camera crew were very personal, and although it became stressful at times, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”


Richard was focused on letting a positive message shine through his involvement in the production. Viewers were exposed to his personal life and relationship with God, something Christians often find difficult to do. The outcome meant that the world was able to catch a glimpse of the everyday life of a young, single Christian man, looking for ‘the one’.


“Every Christian has a unique calling that should not be neglected when considering the right partner. Don’t look for the perfect package, but for someone who you can grow with.”


Richard has received a very positive response from people, who have been encouraged after watching the programme (which was aired in January), and has secured significant coverage from the secular press. He has since been invited to be interviewed on ITV, and there is talk of a second series of ‘Strictly Soulmates’ which he is looking forward to. He also plans to write a book about his experiences during the filming for the series.


His advice to people trusting God for the right partner was given with wisdom that far surpassed his years.“Every Christian has a unique calling that should not be neglected when considering the right partner. Don’t look for the perfect package, but for someone who you can grow with. And most importantly, never rush into anything.”


Richard’s aspirational character means that he is very focused and self-motivated towards achieving his personal goals. This year he is about to embark on a world tour, with his newly-founded company, Dreams for Living (DFL).


DFL is a London-based company representing rising stars in getting record deals. The tour will see Richard travelling to Norway, India, Holland, New York and the USA, and he’ll educate young adults about the power of fame, and give advice as to how an individual can guard their hearts whilst in the spotlight.


www.dreamsforliving.co.uk ......................................................... .........................................................


For more details, visit www.keepthefaith.co.uk 19


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