When Debbie Hancock walked into the TV studio in Melbourne in 1991 to try her luck on reality matchmaking show Blind Date, she never expected that minutes later she’d meet the love of her life!
But looking back at her whirlwind romance to Michael Neat, which saw them engaged six weeks after meeting and married three months later, the couple still pinch themselves at how lucky they are to have found one another on a reality show.
Debbie and Michael then
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At the time, 28-year-old Debbie was newly divorced and had a six-year-old son. But as a former Young Talent Time performer, she loved being on screen, so she agreed to take part in the dating show for a bit of fun.
“I never expected anything to come of it,” she insists.
Similarly, British suitor Michael had simply gone on the show in the hopes of scoring a free holiday before returning to England after an 18-month stint in Australia.
Recounting that memorable day, Debbie says, “Some girlfriends and I went along for a bit of a laugh and when the producers called me a few weeks later, I couldn’t believe it.
“They warned me that if I were to be chosen by the suitor a free holiday could be on the cards. They said I should have my passport ready.”
Debbie, now 54, was one of three hopeful women answering Michael’s questions from behind a screen.
“He liked two out of my three answers because he thought I sounded romantic!” she laughs.
But when hosts Greg Evans and Nicky Buckley rolled back the screen to reveal the hunky British chef, Debbie thought, “I’ve done alright!”
Two days later, the pair along with a cameraman and the director of prizes were whisked off to Italy for a five-day trip.
Not knowing anything about each other, the couple remembers “airing their dirty laundry” while waiting to check in for their flight at Melbourne airport.
Debbie and Michael now, 26 years later.
CONFESSIONS
“Michael asked what I thought of tattoos and I said I hated them! He took off his jacket and showed me the ink on his arms,” laughs Debbie.
“I said, ‘Well, I’ve been married before and I’ve got a six-year-old son.'” But none of that mattered to the pair, who shared their first kiss on the flight to Italy and were quick to confess their feelings for one another.
“It only took us three days to say we loved each other!” says 55-year-old Michael.
“Neither of us wanted to say it first so I came out and told her I had fallen in love with her and thankfully, she said it back.”
AGAINST THE ODDS
Fast forward 26 years and the still-happily married pair say their love of laughter and travel have seen them through more than two decades of marriage, as well as a 2016 sea change from Darwin to Margaret River, WA.
And while reality television relationships tend not to have the greatest success rate, Debbie and Michael are living proof that TV marriages can last the distance.
“I don’t think there’s any secret – we just gel,” says Debbie, adding, “It sounds cliched but communication is the key, and we really enjoy a good laugh, too!”
