Catfish UK (2021– ) User Reviews (37)

Innit

[safenoe · 6/10 · 11 July 2022]

Oobah Butler is the ideal choice to co-host Catfish UK, although am I the only one who thinks he could pass off as John Lithgow's grandson I guess. I saw the first episode of season 2 and it was okay, and you could see the dark skies that makes England what it is.

Julie Adenuga exudes enthusiasm.

I'd love to see guest hosts such as acclaimed English actor Danny Dyer.

Its Aight..

[crystalirenee · 5/10 · 22 March 2022]

Its not the worst thing on television, but I agree with most of the reviews, Julie and Oobah <(😂)don't seem to have a genuine connection even after many episodes. I can't tell you how annoyed I am with their overreacting to very mundane discoveries. Lastly, I wanted to blame the editors, but I'm leaning more towards the hosts for probably having such horrible shots to choose from its impossible.

Catfish on a wee island that isn't as judgemental as the USofA is interesting- Nella needs to stop pulling faces

[RastaVari · 6/10 · 9 March 2023]

So obvs its staged and scripted, its a reality TV show so surely in 2023 no-one is silly enough to think its unedited and unproduced, so those critiques are a bit weird. Its defo different to the US version, tis a very small country, and even the continent (and further afield) are only a short trip away compared to the states. Also the UK is less judgmental than the USA so people are much less likely to catfish here as a result of gender, sexuality, race or (one of the USA's biggest issues) obesity. This means the stories are widely different to those in the states, but this isn't necessarily a problem, as it just exposes a different cultural situation, but it is down to producers to find interesting people and diverse stories, and they need to keep working on this. Most recent season has shown they're struggling as a number of the subjects needing help have been MTV 'stars' and/or social media pseudo-slebs so.... The main problem with the show is the female hosts sitch. Oobah is alright as a host and has experience of how manipulation can happen online so he's a good choice. As for the female hosts, Julie and then Nella. Clearly MTV have realised they've gotta do summit about representation so are like, quick find a black woman as that's the 'opposite' of Oobah. Julie obvs got the job coz of who she's related to.... so OK, MTV there's music link and maybe she could have developed some skills.

Then we get Nella. Nella Nella Nella... she got her career from posting online so presume MTV thought twas a good fit, but she needs to stop with the 'youtube reactor open-mouthed-with-shock face pulling' act - its beyond fake, utterly annoying and completely embarrassing for all involved (you can feel Oobah cringe through the screen!) Nella stop it, authenticity is the way to go.

Oh and both the usual hosts could do with a wee bit more empathy thrown in, which includes telling off those that need it and boosting the self esteem of those that've been had... that Nathan fella from Geordie Shore who sits in when the girls are away is better, he actually seems to give an eff when someone is hurt.

Just plain awful!

[Go_For_The_Jugular · 2/10 · 24 May 2021]

I have nothing against Julie, or Oobah...in fact, I think they'd make a great team - on something else.

As for Catfish UK...it's like amateur hour. Everything is telegraphed in, so you know what's going to happen a good 20 minutes before it does. Massive over-reactions to the most mundane of discoveries...really cringey reaction shots...it's almost like Nev and Max's little siblings doing a parody of Catfish US!

Clearly scripted/pre-planned in places, if not entirely. For example, Guy is waiting in the park for a girl...car pulls up...male driver gets out HOLDING A RED ROSE (to imply he's the catfish)...only for him to let the girl out of the other side of the car and then give her the rose! Why on earth would the driver be holding the rose to start with? It's like me going to my girlfriend's house to propose to her, but I give the engagement ring to the Uber driver on the way there, who hands it back to me when I get out of the car...it's just stupid!

I could only manage the first 3 episodes, before I snapped out of it and realised that I was wasting my life away in 1 hour increments!

This wouldn't even be good as a stand-alone show. So even without comparing it to the US version, it's still dreadful.

Just a rushed, barely thought out, underdeveloped, cash grab!

SO BAD

[angelanwalker · 1/10 · 6 January 2022]

What a disappointing knock-off. I was so excited because of how great the original is and dumbfounded when this garbage came on. It's everything opposite of the US version. The hosts have no chemistry, they don't seem genuinely concerned about the people involved, they sound like robots, the editing SUCKS. It's like they're really bad actors with a horrible script. Even though the situations are not anything shocking, they would be just fine if everything else didn't suck. Just don't watch this, please.

Terrible

[foxyblackoh · 10 February 2022]

I'm sorry but there's something off w/ this show. But Julie and Oobah seem to be nice. I've tried to give it a try as least 3 times. It just isn't it.

Better than reviews

[nch-35770 · 7/10 · 11 July 2021]

This is really not that bad, it's pretty much exactly the same as the US version but with different presenters - the real reason people are salty about the UK version.

It does come across a little more contrived, 'oh we've just got an email', no you haven't, we know the producers have picked out every story line and email.

The show really needs to pick more tragic and obviously catfish cases to be better perceived - after all, people watching are looking for a juicy catfish drama, they aren't looking for happy couples.

There are no excuses for the UK population being different to the US, there are many crazies in the UK, head to the north.

I was excited for it and then, watched it ... oh dear

[williams-towers · 2/10 · 6 September 2021]

The hosts are no way representative of anyone in the UK. Just about one step up to the performances on any UK Kids TV programme, not one moment did I ever feel there was a spontaneous moment, it all just feels so scripted and unlikely.

Some of it boils down to ...

"Oh my God, he's got a Facebook page, we must go back and tell our 'friend ... ' right away, he needs to know this"

Most of the investigation turns up nothing yet suddenly they know everything. I'd not be at all shocked to discover the 'friends' are actually actors. Perhaps they just do tons of retakes that the maybe genuine 'friends' just come across as bad actors.

The hosts just don't seem to gel at all, they just work together. They just so heavily over produce it all and then, really badly edit it. Nothing feels natural at all. I don't know anyone in the UK who would react how these guys do to the amazingly unshocking 'revelations' they discover.

I am sure some Londoners might enjoy it, it's very London based.

I have watched every episode and the specials of the US series and enjoyed them all .... it's so hard to believe Nev would put his name to this. I think he's been Dick Van Dyked on what constitutes Britishness.

Possibly an American audience might enjoy it more, it just doesn't, IMO, fit well here in the UK.

Why the bad ratings guys?

[craighartwell · 8/10 · 15 August 2022]

The chemistry of these two is amazing there's no forced friendship great team great show. Each episode has offered a new twist and not the same formula over and over again. This is brilliant I hope there's more!

Presenters did a great job

[marksaunders-18500 · 7/10 · 12 June 2021]

Oobah and Julie and crew are a great team and the show was presented really well.

Keep them going ! Disappointed that only 4 episodes ? Hopefully more soon as COVID hit production perhaps ?

What a shame

[foxy_gg · 3/10 · 15 July 2021]

I used to be a huge fan of Catfish US and a few (many) seasons in it started to get pretty stale but continued to watch because I love Nev (and Kamie/Max) and it seemed to be the consensus online that it was most people's opinion. I was pretty surprised that we were getting a UK version this late in the game but thought I'd give it a go while I eat my breakfast. This was not good, the presenters are lovely but I think having an existing partner team would have probably been better for chemistry etc. (Nev & Max's chemistry was fantastic) the story was as old as time but spun as something new and dramatic(?) I actually zoned out a few times even without anything to distract me. 5+ years ago this would have felt fresher, and it was being asked for, if memory serves me right.

Genuinely really good

[josh-leal · 9/10 · 23 August 2021]

Love this show, just like the US version but with relatable locations and culture etc. Genuinely love oobah and Julie so much and their chemistry is really enjoyable to watch.

Other people's reviews are very unfair.

It is ok..

[deanjones-21354 · 7/10 · 14 May 2021]

Its worth a watch, not a patch on the US version, but watchable!

The worst catfish attempt ever 0/10 stars

[godesslfe · 1/10 · 11 January 2022]

Although it's scripted close to the us version they leave so much out. Season 1 episode 1, they say they will call the catfish person then all of a sudden they are on their way to meet. Like wtf we missed the entire phone call and context. Transitions are bad, too much content left out. Reactions are just over the top. When meeting the first person they are helping the one host looks like she just rolled out of bed. Wtf? I will Deff not watch this again.

Horrendous horrendous horrendous

[jcrick-48675 · 1/10 · 31 July 2021]

The show is so bad it prompted me to create an account on here, just to give it a 1 star

2 of the least talented, annoying, personality-less hosts of a TV show I've ever witnessed. Bring Nev & Kamie to the UK and sack these two off, I beg of you.

Oy Gevalt! Bland and boring with no personality

[banix16-81-92388 · 1/10 · 12 September 2021]

Me and my fiance were so excited to see that there was a UK version of Catfish as we loved the US version. However, this was a total disappointment. Unlike Nev and Kamie/Max, the British hosts have no personality, chemistry together or presenting skills whatsoever. The show is badly edited with the hosts running for no reason trying to build up tension and reacting OTT over any little thing they find out. Watching this version of Catfish you will give up the will to live. This show makes The Only Way Is Essex look Oscar /BAFTA worthy.

Excited... Then, disappointed.

[nastychevy-32361 · 1/10 · 23 February 2022]

It's just awful. Yes, everyone on the show is new at the job - but seriously, nobody is good at anything here. The hosts are cartoonish in their reactions to the droll 'discoveries' and carry cameras pointed at themselves or each other - and the footage is then horribly edited. The storylines are contrived, acted, and BORING. I can't waste any more time on this awful show when the US version, in my opinion, gets better all the time.

Great

[vxkxmwq · 10/10 · 30 May 2021]

I think it's great. Ignore the other comments. Yes you can do a show on an island. There's plenty of shows in the uk that prove that comment completely false. Be open minded, not everything has to be exactly the same as the American. It has a nice uk twang and I think people from the uk appreciate it.

Pretty Awful

[joannecarter7-790-754607 · 2/10 · 13 July 2022]

In comparison to the US version this is shoddy. The hosts, be it Oobah, Julie or the frankly shouty over-emoting Nella aren't a patch on Nev and Kamie. It's poor.

I don't understand the previous negative reviews!!

[bryonyrgraham · 10/10 · 21 August 2021]

Really enjoying Catfish UK. Julie and Oobah are great hosts. Some of it seems scripted/exaggerated but that's all TV, it's still entertaining.

Change the title to Nigerian Scammer UK

[matt-dalton80 · 1/10 · 21 February 2022]

This show is really just about people getting scammed by Nigerian con artists. The hosts don't seem to understand the mechanics of the show that feel so organic in the original. Also, the hosts don't seem to realize a lot of the catfishes are pro scammers and just leave their poor clients with these con artists, thinking it's a happy ending. Nev would be rolling in his grave!

Sooo bad!

[plain-51651 · 1/10 · 16 June 2022]

This is so fake. All staged. All terrible. Omg this is a real page. We have no choice but to tell them they're being catfished. We'll isn't that the point of the show?? Those awful open mouthed shock faces all of the time.

The hosts are nobodies. Oobah is someone who has overinflated his past experiences. A journalist? No. Someone who did some pranks more like.

The entire thing is staged by losers who ask stupid questions. Bad acting all round. An embarrassment to the UK.

Does not equate to the original

[arcochran · 2/10 · 29 January 2022]

These hosts have no chemistry like the American hosts. I am mad I paid for this season. It has nothing to do with orientation and everything to do with lack of chemistry.

crappy UK version

[CharlesBronson72 · 3/10 · 15 July 2021]

This is just a crappy version of a great US show. Love Nev in the US show.

Binge watched

[robjaguar222 · 10/10 · 2 September 2021]

Watched all 10 episodes with a little apprehension but I was pleasantly surprised. It's far better than the american version and oobah & julie are so likeable.

Loved it from start to finish and can't wait for the next series.