My Mum, Your Dad viewers have argued that the adult children shouldn’t be watching their parents in such vulnerable moments without their knowledge.
The ITV dating show sees a group of single parents live in a West Sussex mansion together and attend workshops and dates in the hopes of finding their second love.
But, unbeknown to them, their adult children are situated in a nearby bunker where they are watching their every moves and secretly playing matchmakers.
The plot twist has divided viewers since Monday’s launch show and fans doubled down on their criticism during Wednesday night’s very emotional episode.
The single parents were seen opening up about their dating history in a tear-jerking self-acceptance therapy-style workshop with a psychotherapist.
Emotional: My Mum, Your Dad viewers have argued that the children shouldn’t be watching their parents in such vulnerable moments without their knowledge (Janey is pictured)
However, as the kids secretly watched their parents getting very vulnerable, viewers took to social media to question whether they should be watching the scenes.
One argued: ‘Just seen @MyMumYourDadUK . What a nightmare for the children to watch /spy on their parents having psychological counselling! Who’s counselling them??’
While another tweeted: ‘This is striking me again with this workshop – should their kids be privy to this??’
A third said: ‘Why couldn’t they have kept it simple and let the adults just get on with it? Why do their kids need to be involved?’
The workshop saw Janey emotionally open up about being adopted while Sharon spoke about being cheated on by her previous boyfriends.
Janey told the group about how she has a fear of ‘rejection and abandonment’ due to being adopted as she broke down in tears.
She said: ‘I know that things hold me back, I want to have that connection but it’s very deep-rooted.
‘I’m adopted and I’ve got the best parents in the world but rejection and abandonment – I’m a pleaser. It’s only in the past few years that I’ve really addressed it and understand what it means, I will find an excuse to finish things.’
Watching on: The adult children have been secretly watching their parents’ every move, with Jess becoming emotional as she watched her father open up in a therapy-style workshop
Don’t approve: However, as the kids secretly watched their parents getting very vulnerable, viewers took to social media to question whether they should be watching the scenes
Sharon also told how she has a lack of confidence around dating because of being cheated by her boyfriends in the past.
Getting tearful, she said: ‘I have lack of confidence in my judgement, I have picked the wrong types in the past. It’s a lot, it’s not just myself, it’s been my girls who have been hurt also.’
Speaking to camera, she added: ‘I am a mother first and to have that special somebody would be amazing and the cherry on the cake, but to never have that one person who thinks I am enough is hard.’
Sharon had earlier also told Elliott about how being cheated on had ruined her confidence, admitting she was nervous for their date.
Of their date on the show, she said: ‘Initially I was absolutely terrified, so out of practice, but you made me feel really comfortable.’
While Elliott reassured her: ‘I had a great time, it was great getting to know you. I don’t think you give yourself enough credit about being out of practice.’
Speaking of her ex-boyfriends, she said: ‘He was still being a boy, I had a relationship after him, he was the guy who had another relationship going at the same time.‘
‘My confidence with men or to trust a guy was quite low. It took me a long time to get to here,’ she emotionally added.
In tears: The workshop saw Janey emotionally open up about being adopted, unaware that her son Will was watching the scenes
Vulnerable: Sharon also told how she has a lack of confidence around dating because of being cheated by her boyfriends in the past
Roger also emotionally spoke about losing his late wife Joanne to cancer last year, with his daughter Jess revealing he doesn’t normally talk about the devastating loss.
In the workshop, he told the group: ‘I do carry a massive resentment against cancer.’
While a tearful Jess said: ‘It’s weird hearing him say it because we don’t really talk about it.’
Elsewhere in the episode, the singletons also welcomed two new arrivals as Janey got to know the group before Martin’s arrival at the end of the episode.
Janey quickly stirred things up with her bombshell entrance as she appeared to have caught Roger’s attention, after he told how he likes blonde women.
Speaking to camera after her entrance, Roger gushed: ‘My first thoughts of Janey are wow! How can she be single? She looks absolutely stunning, but if I saw her out, I don’t think I’d dare talk to her.’
The attraction appeared to be mutual as Janey told her fellow single ladies: ‘Silver fox, he is a bit of a silver fox, 007.’
New arrival Martin then made his big entrance at the end of the episode, while his daughter Jessica joined the adult children in the nearby bunker.
Grief: Roger also emotionally spoke about losing his late wife Joanne to cancer last year, with his daughter Jess revealing he doesn’t normally talk about the devastating loss
Meet the new arrival! Later in the episode, 6ft 10 ex-basketball player Martin made a confidence entrance into the house and Monique seemed to have her eye on him
The 6ft10 former basketball player made a confident entrance into the mansion but admitted he can be more nervous one-on-one.
‘If you put me one on one with any of the ladies, then I’ll become a bit more drawn back,’ he confessed as he spoke to camera.
But he later sat down for an intimate chat with Monique, who said she wants to get to know the ‘easy-going’ single father as she appeared interested in him.
My Mum, Your Dad continues Thursday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
My Mum, Your Dad: Meet the single parents and their matchmaker kids!
Meet the parents … and their matchmaker kids!
Name: Monique
Age: 50
Location: Winchmore Hill
Profession: Therapist/student
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Kind-hearted, a believer in God and positive. I radiate love!
Why did your daughter nominate you for MMYD? To dip my toes back in the pool of dating, and try and connect with someone and find love, and experience living with other people again.
Name: Sharon
Age: 53
Location: Sunderland
Profession: Safeguarding and welfare officer in education
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Fun, genuine, personable.
Why did your daughter nominate you for MMYD? She was getting desperate! I’d lost all confidence in myself. I think for Tia she was wanting to give me a bit of a helping hand.
Name: Caroline
Age: 51
Location: South Lanarkshire
Profession: Tech advisor/scan assistant at a private baby clinic
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Charismatic, outgoing and fun. I can be a bit fiery at times!
Why did your daughter nominate you for MMYD? I’ve been single for such a long time, it’s probably the longest I’ve ever been single! I’ve always been quite happy being single but I think she thought, ‘Mum, you need to get out there!’
Name: Natalie
Age: 44
Location: Bournemouth
Profession: Self-esteem and relationship recovery coach
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Adventurous, deep and outgoing.
Why did your son nominate you for MMYD? I’ve been on my own for a long time. I think he thinks it’s my time for me now.
Name: Paul
Age: 51
Location: London, lives in Bath
Profession: Owner, decorating company
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Very chilled, laid back and loyal.
Why did your daughter nominate you for MMYD? She feels I need to sort myself out when it comes to dating!
Name: Clayton
Age: 57
Location: Nottingham
Profession: Pastoral support officer
How would you describe yourself in a few words? I’m pretty effervescent. I’m all about balance in terms of fun – I’d say there’s a cheeky side to me.
Why did your son Christian nominate you for MMYD? He’d like to see me settled with someone I could have a future with.
Name: Roger
Age: 58
Location: Derbyshire
Profession: Postman
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Fun, loving, conscientious, struggling to get old – I don’t want to get old. I lost my wife, I know that you can get up and life can be over in a split second.
Why did your daughter Jess nominate you for MMYD? She’s a lovely girl. Her mum was really thoughtful in everything – she could plan things to a detail – and Jess has got that. She is so thoughtful and it was just a lovely thing for her to say, ‘Dad, look, we understand that you’re struggling and it’s been hard and we know that you’ve got a lot of love to give and we’re OK if you were to see someone else’.
Following my wife passing 18 months ago, I didn’t really want to meet anyone. You don’t expect it to be you and you don’t expect it to be your wife. But I’m going on the show to get some confidence. I must have subconsciously wanted to meet someone by saying yes to the show.
Name: Elliott
Age: 53
Location: Essex
Profession: PE teacher/football coach
How would your son describe you? He’d say I am good fun, easy going (I’m not easy going).
Why did your son nominate you for MMYD? He wants rid of me! I think the prospect of me being in his life for too much longer was a burden. No, he just wants me to be happy.
Name: Janey
Age: 47
Location: West Sussex
Profession: Singer/recruitment manager
How would you describe yourself in a few words? Fun, kind, outgoing and creative.
Why did your son nominate you for MMYD? Because he’s lost all hope for me, he thinks I’m undateable! He wants me to meet someone.
Name: Martin H
Age: 56
Location: Birmingham/lives in Epsom
Profession: Retired basketball player, sports presenter and MD
How would you describe yourself in a few words? I’m big, I’m fun, I’m outgoing and I consider myself to be a likeable sort of bloke. I’ve spent 90% of my life in the friendzone… I’m everyone’s best friend.
Why did your daughter nominate you for MMYD? To try and get me out of the friend zone! I have a lack of self-worth and she feels I am worthy and I do a lot for my family and I should have a chance to find emotional fulfilment.
Name: Taiya
Age: 21
Location: North London
Profession: Student
Why did you nominate your mum to go on the show? I nominated my mum because I think she deserves love! She’s put everything aside to raise me and my sister for so many years so I thought now is my mum’s time.
Name: Tia
Age: 24
Location: Sunderland
Profession: Social media influencer
Why did you nominate your mum to go on the show? I feel like it’s finally her time to be happy. I think she’s put herself on the backburner to bring up myself and my sister. In the last few years I feel like she’s given up on love, so she didn’t want to try anymore. I hope putting her forward will be the push she needs to put herself first.
Name: Karli
Age: 20
Location: South Lanarkshire
Profession: Flight attendant
Why did you nominate your mum to go on the show? She was single for a while and she doesn’t seem to have any luck with guys. So I thought why not?
Name: Kaliel
Age: 20
Location: Bournemouth
Profession: Gas and plumbing apprentice
Why did you nominate your mum to go on the show? Because I wanted her to find someone and be happy. I saw it advertised and I thought it would be perfect for her.
Name: Mazey
Age: 21
Location: Bath
Profession: University Student
Why did you nominate your dad to go on the show? I want to see him settled. The way he was dating before wasn’t working. I wanted him to date outside of the box.
Name: Christian
Age: 35
Location: Nottingham
Profession: Graphic artist/warehouse employee
Why did you nominate your dad to go on the show? I just want him to settle down, find the right person – he’s getting on now! I want him to live life with someone. I want him to travel with someone and get out there.
Name: Jess
Age: 28
Location: Derbyshire
Profession: Network rail planner
Why did you nominate your dad to go on the show? It was a joint thing with my brother and sister and it was our way of basically telling him that we were happy for him to start dating, if that was something he wanted to do.
It was a cop out on our part really, as it meant we didn’t need to sit down and actually say it. It was a sneaky way of saying, ‘Oh look at this, do you want to look into this?’ Never actually expected anything to come of it.
It was about putting dad first. We’d never really thought about us, or about ourselves in that situation. I wasn’t thinking about how I’d react, I was thinking about him.
The reason for that is he does the same for us, he would always put family first. So it was just a way of saying to him, stop worrying about us. If he wasn’t ready, that was also totally fine. It wasn’t an ultimatum. It was just, if you want to, you can, don’t worry about us.
Name: Zachary
Age: 21
Location: Essex
Profession: University student
Why did you nominate your dad to go on the show? He deserves a chance to be happy and he hasn’t had that. I want him to have what a lot of his friends have done; get married and settle down. He deserves the opportunity to find the ‘end stages’ of love.
Name: Will
Age: 19
Location: West Sussex
Profession: Student
Why did you nominate your mum to go on the show? It’s getting a bit desperate now! We need a good chance of getting her to find someone.
If it takes me to get involved, then that’s apparently how dire things have got!
Name: Jessica
Age: 23
From: Epsom
Profession: Model/ Sales & Marketing/ Mental Health Skills Coaching
Why did you nominate your dad to go on the show? I want him to get out there a bit. He’s been focussed on us kids and his work and not even really thought about the possibility of meeting someone new that he could date or have a relationship with.
He deserves that and to have someone to do nice things with and have an emotional connection with outside of his kids.
