A new pod squad has entered Love Is Blind: UK Season 2 wearing their hearts — and, for one particular dater, his spleen — on their sleeves.
Over the first four episodes, 30 men and women flirted, shed tears, built intimacy, and, in a few cases, even fell in love, all through the glowing purple wall. So far, there have been two different love triangles, a croon-inspiring tattoo, and a Japanese good luck charm that turned out to be a very bad omen for one pod pairing. We’ve watched five duos get engaged sight unseen, and one go their separate ways thanks to splenic intervention. Now, the committed couples will attempt to build a physical connection that matches their emotional one ahead of their weddings in just a few weeks.
Keep reading for a recap of the partnerships that were formed — and fell apart — so far in the pods. And check back here for more updates as the season continues, including post-reunion interviews with the Love Is Blind: UK Season 2 pod squad after it’s all over.
TOGETHER
Billy and Ashleigh
STATUS: STILL TOGETHER
Former Army Cadet Ashleigh immediately hits it off with Billy, who works in the Physical Training Corps. Not only is she excited to connect with a man in uniform, but she’s also charmed by his Irish accent and Michael Bublé tattoo, which Billy himself admits is a “wee bit cheesy.” He, on the other hand, is drawn to Ashleigh’s infectious laugh and deep respect for the armed forces. The pair’s inital spark develops into something deeper, as they’re also able to get vulnerable with one another. Billy opens up about his divorce, and Ashleigh expresses that her desire to find a true partner stems from the responsibilities she took on as a teenager after her parents split.
Though the two have a lot in common, there’s one thing holding Billy back: Ashleigh’s job as a cabin crew member. His first marriage ended because he and his wife were living separate lives due to conflicting work schedules, and he worries about facing the same issue again. Understanding his reservations, Ashleigh explains that she would be willing to pursue work opportunities on the ground in order to build a stable relationship and family. In other words, she’d gladly trade walking down the aisles of planes every day for a chance to walk down the aisle with him. That’s enough for Billy to take the next step, so after a few more dates, he pops the question. Ashleigh excitedly accepts, and the couple becomes the first to get engaged in the pods this season.
When they finally meet face-to-face, the attraction is instant, and their kissing game is on point. While vacationing together in Cyprus, their physical connection continues to strengthen, with Billy referring to his new fiancé as a “knockout” and Ashleigh openly admiring her man’s abs and legs — she doesn’t even mind that he shaves them!
Kal and Sarover
STATUS: STILL TOGETHER
From their first pod date, Kal can’t get enough of Sarover’s “lovely little posh accent.” When he shares that he has come to the experiment with the sole intention of finding his wife, she’s thrilled, and the two discuss the roles they would like to play in their future marriages. They quickly become comfortable with one another, and it seems that no topic is off limits for Kal and Sarover. He opens up about almost losing two of his brothers, and she shares that her anxiety often makes navigating change very challenging.
During one of their emotional chats, they discover that both their parents got divorced after they went away to college. The discussion about family also leads Kal to reveal that he is half Pakistani and Sarover to open up about her Indian heritage in return. Due to the history of conflict between the two countries, Kal is concerned that her parents may not accept him. Sarover, who has only ever dated Indian men, admits that she’s always prioritized pleasing her family, instead of going after what she really wants. After Sarover assuages Kal’s worries about their clashing backgrounds, he gets down on one knee.
Kal comes to the reveal decked out in traditional South Asian wedding attire he packed before entering the pods — yet another sign that his partnership with Sarover was “meant to be.” Their in-person introduction goes off without a hitch, and they exchange I love yous. But, in Cyprus, Sarover begins to feel insecure when Kal shares that she is not his usual type — his dating history is filled with white and blonde women.
Kieran and Megan
STATUS: STILL TOGETHER
“That instant click was there,” Megan shares after her first pod date with Kieran. They get warmed up with a conversation about their shared love of dancing, then discuss their long-term goals to build a family. On date two, the sexual tension between them reaches a fever pitch, which excites Kieran, who believes physical chemistry is vital in a successful relationship. Even more important, however, is the ability to be vulnerable with a partner, which is on full display when Kieran opens up about the complicated relationship he has with his mother. Their discussions about family dynamics leads Megan to share a story about never really knowing her biological father, and how her mother’s romantic relationships have impacted her own attitude toward men.
While Kieran’s connection grows with Megan, he’s also pursuing Sophie, who has a harder time letting her guard down. Though Sophie does eventually open up about her abandonment issues, Kieran decides to gift Megan a good luck charm from his travels to Japan, which Sophie catches wind of in the women’s lounge. Sophie decides to tell Megan about her own relationship with Kieran, leaving Megan feeling confused about where she stands with her strongest connection. After Sophie confronts Kieran and storms out of the pods after a bumpy conversation, he reassures Megan on their next date about the situation, telling her, “I only want to do the rest of this journey with you.”
And, so they do, as Kieran gets down on one knee and proposes in the pods. She says yes, and they see each other for the very first time. She’s giddy over his dimples, and he’s “buzzin’ about” her red hair. While Megan admits that she is “falling” in love with Kieran, she hasn’t expressed it to him just yet.
Jed and Bardha
STATUS: STILL TOGETHER
More than your “typical Essex lad,” Jed enters the pods looking for someone to build a family with, and Bardha fits the bill. The pair connect over the importance of honoring their respective heritages — he’s Lebanese and she’s Albanian — and wanting two children. At the end of their first pod date, Bardha jokes about being “done” with dating because she just met her husband. Feeling safe with Jed, she goes on to share the story of how her family fled to the UK when she was five years old because of the war in Kosovo. The experience, she says, has shaped her into an independent and ambitious person, who values family — and her extremely tight-knit relationship with her parents — over everything.
The two talk baby names, plan Sunday roast dinners with family, and eventually tell each other they’re falling in love. “My heart, my head, and my gut are all saying the same thing,” Jed shares in their final pod date, right before popping the question. Without doubts or hesitations, Bardha says yes. At their first meeting, Jed says he’s excited to show Bardha’s family that he will take care of her, and they share their first “I love you.” “It was the best moment of my life so far,” she says of their reveal. In Cyprus, Bardha and Jed have their first face-to-face date night, and the two continue falling more and more in love with each other. He gets emotional when they discuss their future children, and she feels confident he’ll fit in perfectly with her family.
Javen and Katisha
STATUS: STILL TOGETHER
Drawn to Katisha’s “kind spirit,” Javen coaxes her to open up on their first pod date. She confides her fears of being vulnerable in her search for love because of a traumatic past breakup. Katisha explains that her last boyfriend was unfaithful many times, but she always took him back. Though the two are on opposite ends of birth order in their families — Katisha is the eldest of seven and Javen is the youngest of four — they’re united in the desire to have two to three kids one day. On their next meeting, they discuss the importance of having both physical and emotional intimacy in a romantic partnership, and Katisha is taken with Javen’s honesty.
But he isn’t Katisha’s only connection in the pods. She’s also being pursued by Demola, who is much more effusive about his desire to be together. When Katisha seeks reassurance from Javen, he plays it too cool, which makes her afraid that he’s holding back. When Demola tells Katisha that she is deserving of the affection he has been bestowing on her, she decides he is the one. As she heads into her next date with Javen, Katisha tells Demola, “Don’t worry, nothing’s going to change. I feel confident in my decision.” But when she tries to call it quits with Javen, he finally makes a romantic gesture, presenting her with flowers and declaring his feelings. “I feel like you’re the one,” he tells Katisha, who second-guesses her decision.
Following her gut, Katisha goes back on her promise to Demola, leaving him completely shocked. In order to prove her commitment to Javen after the back and forth, Katisha tells him that she’s willing to propose. That’s enough reassurance for him, so he asks, “Will you marry me?” Their reveal goes smoothly, leaving Katisha confident that she’s made the right choice. But, in Cyprus, the other members of the pod squad question Katisha and Javen’s relationship. Kal even confronts her about how she handled the breakup with Demola. Will their shaky start continue to follow them through their journey to the altar?
NOT TOGETHER
Patrick and Aanu
STATUS: NOT TOGETHER
Though Aanu has never heard of human design when she first meets Patrick, the two find common ground when discussing spirituality. While Patrick may look to his spleen for guidance these days, his Catholic upbringing shaped who he is, which speaks to Aanu, as a devout Christian who reads the Bible, fasts, and prays regularly. They also bond over their Nigerian backgrounds and begin to build a deep mental and emotional connection. Patrick feels challenged by Aanu, while she feels extremely safe with him, and they quickly become one another’s number one pod pick.
Several dates in, however, the growth they’ve been experiencing as a couple comes to a standstill. Aanu gets uncomfortable when Patrick puts her on the spot by asking her to sing, and he is turned off by her hesitancy and humility. He also doesn’t like that she seeks approval from her mother instead of following her own intuition. Aanu is left feeling confused, and Patrick’s spleen goes “silent.”
On a spa date planned by Patrick, he tells Aanu he doesn’t want to see anyone else, but the pair still struggles to get back on the same page. He fears that she is holding back and that their energy is no longer aligned. In an attempt to show him that she can be open to him, Aanu writes Patrick a song and prepares to perform it in the pods. Though he’s appreciative of the gesture, he still decides to break up with her. Before leaving the experiment, Patrick ends it all and wishes her all the best. “I didn’t think this would be the outcome,” she shares. “It is heartbreaking.”