Arrange Me a Marriage, Thursday 8pm, BBC2

Posted by Alan Tyers

Our rating:
She's billed as "the Asian Cilla Black", but that says more about the people who do the publicity for TV than it does about Glaswegian Aneela Rahman.

For Aneela is a matchmaker and, over the five parts of Arrange Me a Marriage, she'll take the principles that some Asian cultures have used for generations and apply them to unhappily-single British thirtysomethings.

She doesn't say "lorra, lorra laffs" or "our Graham" - not in the first episode at least - or have a Top 10 hit with 'Alfie'. And that's no bad thing. What she does do is hook her clients up with people of similar class, education, earnings and so on. Much better than all this wishy-washy love and desire stuff, I'm sure you’ll agree.

This makes for pretty good TV, and – in episode one – an enjoyable tension between the ACB and Lexi Proud, a 33-year-old director of cabin crew, who has money and lots of dates with posh men in fancy bars… but no lurve.

Aneela ruffles Lexi's feathers by telling her she is a regular country girl with ideas above her station. And hey presto, she finds Lexi – who lived on a farm as a gal – not one but two suitably countryside-loving / horsey dates. Happily, one of them turns out rather well… All good fun.

Comments

[harry singh]

Hi - i think that Aneela Rahman should go on the high street and talk to Asian ladies as to why they are not getting married. I have met up with numerous ladies who have just fobbed me off after the first meeting. Im a successful and not bad looking chap. What's wrong with the English-Asian's these days?

[Ejel Khan]

I worship her she is a goddess. I love her nails!

[INDER]

Hi

I'm a 37 yr old asian female who wants help to arrange my marriage could you please provide me with contact details for Aneela Rahman.

Yours Desperately
Inder

[Eileen Sharp]

I saw Arrange me a Marriage this week for the first time and loved it.Aneela Rahman is perfect for this program, with her good looks and sparkling personality.
Loved the music throughout too.Is it available on a C.D?

[nadeem]

Fascinating programme ,loved it!

[Kam]

What a way to go, i definitely will be tuning in and there will be 1000s other tuning in.