Would you put your fate into the hands of a matchmaker and marry someone you’d never seen before in your life?

That’s the idea behind Channel 4′s new series, Married At First Sight, which takes the traditional idea of arranged marriages and gives it a 21st century update.

Three couples will meet for the very first time at their wedding. Once they say “I do”, they will have five weeks to get to know each other and decide whether to stay together.

Emma, a bride taking part in Married At First Sight, with a bouquet of flowers (Chris Morgan/Channel 4)
(Chris Morgan/Channel 4)

So what kind of people have signed up to the show?

Bob
The 32-year-old is taking part because his boss insisted on it. Although previously indifferent to marriage, he’s interested in the science and selection process. His ideal match would be clever, witty, independent and with “no hippy-s**t”.

Emma
The 31-year-old imagined she’d have been married with kids by now and thinks she’s single because she’s invested all of her time into her career and travelling. She would like to be matched with a man who is fun, fearless and up for adventure.

A flower on the jacket of a participant in Married At First Sight
(Chris Morgan/Channel 4)

James
The 33-year-old has been a bachelor for a number of years, with his longest relationship lasting around 18 months. He’s now looking for ‘the one’ as his friends are beginning to settle down. Describing himself as traditional, he’d like a partner who’s as easygoing as he is.

Jason
The 33-year-old says he finds it hard to meet the right person and is taking part as he liked the idea of being matched with someone scientifically. He likes women who are outgoing, confident, fun, lively and enthusiastic, and not too vain or shallow.

Jerome
The 30-year-old applied to meet a confidant, partner, lover and friend, and says he will do anything to meet the one, “even if that means embarrassing myself on national television”. He’s “not much of a dating website person”, either.

A couple stand at the altar in Married At First Sight
(Chris Morgan/Channel 4)

Richard
The 40-year-old is taking part because finding ‘the one’ isn’t easy, but thought it looked like, scientifically, it could be possible to find a good match. He is interested in marriage in order “to have a soulmate and make a family”, and is looking for someone “kind, caring and spiritual”.

Petra
The 35-year-old was “a serial relationship fiend” until she hit 30, but has been single ever since. She’s looking for a funny, hands-on, confident, handsome devil, and is taking part because it’s “worth a shot” and “Can’t be worse than Tinder, eh?!”

A bride holds a glass of champagne and flowers in Married At First Sight
(Chris Morgan/Channel 4)

A panel of experts in psychology, social and evolutionary anthropology and theology will attempt to create the perfect match. The matches were created from a pool of 1,500 applicants who were examined by experts in psychology, anthropology and genealogy.

The newlyweds will find out whether the panel’s scientific expertise has been successful in finding them their ideal partner.

Married At First Sight starts on Channel 4 on Thursday July 9.