If you thought your last Tinder date was traumatic, buckle up — Dating Horror Stories is back for a second (but slightly leaner) series, and the cringe is coming in fresh form.

Comedy Central UK has officially announced that the digital sketch show will return from 6 October 2025, launching six episodes of roughly five minutes each. That’s right — what was a first run of nine episodes now gets a more concentrated stab at the black mirror of modern romance.

What we already know (and what raises an eyebrow)

The show is still produced by Mother’s Best Child for Comedy Central.

The creative team behind the new series includes Guy Davidson and Daniel Clarke as directors and executive producers on the Mother’s Best Child side, while Amie Parker‑Williams continues as series commissioner and executive producer for Comedy Central.

Also of note: the second series brings in guest directors you didn’t exactly expect — Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing, Black Mirror), Kirk Flash (This is Spain) and Sara Harrak all take a seat in the director’s chair.

The returning cast includes Kiell Smith‑Bynoe, Ed Kear, Kyrah Gray, Mandeep Dhillon, Jurell Carter, and Finlay Christie. It's a strong ensemble — familiar faces for fans of British comedy and awkward dating energy alike.

From nine episodes to six: what gives?

The first run in 2024 had nine episodes, released weekly, and the initial audience metrics were modest but solid: the opening episode drew about 105,000 viewers on YouTube, while later episodes averaged around 50,000.

This time, with just six episodes, the team seems to be going for precision over volume — trimming the fat, aiming for tighter scripts, and leaning into the higher-stakes moments of dating absurdity. Whether that’s a smart move or just a cost-cutting maneuver, we’ll see.

What to expect (and what I’m personally hoping for)

Each episode will continue to explore dating anxiety, modern dating norms, stereotypes, and the unspoken horrors that lurk beneath seemingly innocuous relationships.

Given the influence of the guest directors, there’s a good chance we’ll see some episodes stray from the original tone — maybe a mockumentary twist from Chaudhry or some surreal storytelling from Harrak. That could elevate things beyond “awkward date turned nightmare” and into something more daring.

I’d also hope — pray even — for a cameo or two that catches us off guard. The 2024 run already leaned into surprise guest appearances, and it would be a missed opportunity not to throw in a few new curveballs.

If the new series leans heavier into bold directorial flourishes without losing the sharp bite of the writing, this could be the moment the show steps up from “cute internet sketch” to “mini event digital comedy.”

Final thoughts

There’s something deeply satisfying in seeing a show about dating horror come back for more. After all, love (or whatever we’re calling it these days) already feels like a horror genre on its worst days.

Six episodes might feel like a tease, especially after a longer first run. But with stronger direction, a tight cast, and higher expectations, this second series might just sharpen the satire and land harder.

I’ll be watching (and cringing) starting 6 October — who’s with me?

British comedian John Kearns has officially announced his highly anticipated 2026 tour, titled Tilting At Windmills—a sprawling 55+ date run that will see the idiosyncratic comic bring his uniquely surreal wit to stages across the UK and beyond.

The announcement, made earlier this morning via Kearns’ social media and official website, has already sparked excitement among fans and comedy lovers alike. Known for his philosophical bent, absurdist humour, and signature look—wig and false teeth included—Kearns’ upcoming tour promises to deliver the kind of deeply thoughtful and disarmingly funny material that has become his trademark.

A Quixotic Undertaking

The tour title, Tilting At Windmills, is a nod to the famous image from Don Quixote, where the deluded knight charges at windmills believing them to be giants. It’s a fitting metaphor for Kearns’ style: tackling life’s big questions with the tools of clownishness and melancholy, poking at the absurdity of existence while dressed for the wrong century.

Kearns, the only comedian to have won both the Best Newcomer (2013) and Best Show (2014) at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in consecutive years, has built a cult following for his intimate, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant stand-up. Unlike many of his peers, his shows don’t rely on punchline-per-minute metrics; instead, they build gradually, weaving stories and observations into something deeply personal and profoundly funny.

“It’s about trying. Failing, mostly. But still trying.”

Speaking about the tour, Kearns said:

“It’s about trying. Failing, mostly. But still trying. There’s something noble and daft about it. So I thought, what better way to mark that than by getting on a train every night for six months and telling strangers about it?”

The 2026 tour kicks off in January in Newcastle, winding its way through major cities like Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, and London, before culminating in a series of dates in Ireland and continental Europe. A few surprise “work-in-progress” gigs are also rumoured to be on the cards for late 2025.

Fans React

The announcement was met with enthusiasm across social media, with fans praising Kearns for continuing to carve his own path in a comedy world increasingly dominated by algorithm-friendly soundbites.

“No one else does what Kearns does. He’s not trying to go viral—he’s trying to say something true,” one fan commented on X (formerly Twitter).

Critics have also expressed anticipation, with several noting that Tilting At Windmills could mark a new high point in Kearns’ already acclaimed body of work.

Tickets and Dates

Tickets for Tilting At Windmills go on general sale this Friday at 10am, with pre-sales available to newsletter subscribers a day earlier. Given Kearns’ loyal fanbase and the relatively intimate venues he tends to favour, early booking is strongly advised.

Full tour dates and ticketing information are available now at johnkearnscomedy.com.

Don’t miss the chance to see one of the UK’s most original comedy voices on his most ambitious tour yet.