When Saffron Sharpe talks about her latest project, Ok! Chope, it’s impossible not to notice how passionate and serious she is. The Singaporean host and content creator has poured her heart into every detail—from casting to shooting to playing cupid—making this one of her most ambitious projects yet.
“About a year ago, I was watching YouTube and TikTok and came across a dating show called Pop the Balloon, and I wanted to do my own version, but make it local—hence Ok! Chope,” she explains. “I’ve loved reality TV since I was a kid—Love Island, Terrace House—and this felt like the perfect way to showcase a different side of my personality and elevate local talent.”
What can viewers expect from the dating show? Well, with Sharpe—known for her authenticity and confidence—at the helm, viewers can expect nothing but realness. The show promises to keep things unpredictable and authentic.
“I don’t want to give too much away because you have to watch it for yourself, but we have a range of contestants with different personalities. It’s surprising to see how different people present themselves,” she says. Each episode focuses on a specific group—from Gen Zs and body-positive contestants to an episode exploring red flags—ensuring variety, chemistry, and a fair share of unexpected moments.
“This was my first large-scale project, and I wanted it to feel authentic by reflecting real ideals for the Singaporean dating scene. With this show, I tried my best to give an honest, unfiltered take on modern dating.”
Singapore hasn’t had many dating shows, so there’s a lot of excitement around how Ok! Chope will play out. And the contestants are a mix of familiar faces and fresh energy: Malaysian DJ and content creator Ashley Lau, Singaporean model and national footballer Lila Tan, and content creator and advocate Lynette Kua are just some of the personalities bringing charm, drama, and chemistry to the screen.
Sharpe’s favorite part? Seeing her matchmaking instincts come to life. “The best thing about playing cupid is when your intuition about who would match actually plays out,” she says. “There’s always a level of anxiety while shooting, but when it works out, that’s the highlight.”
With her enthusiasm, hard work, and clear love for reality TV, Sharpe is making Ok! Chope a must-watch. Whether you’re here for the drama, the romance, or just the joy of watching real people navigate love, this is Singapore’s newest dating experiment—and it’s one to keep an eye on.
Here, Sharpe shares more about the highs, lows, and surprises of filming her new dating reality show.
GRAZIA Singapore (GS): What surprised you most while filming—the contestants, the chemistry, or the drama?
Saffron Sharpe (SS): What surprised me most was how different groups of people displayed distinct characteristics. Each episode focused on a specific group—Gen Zs, a body-positive cast, or a lesbian episode. The lesbian episode stood out the most for me—the chemistry was so in-your-face, and the girls were so gung ho in their approach. It was very different from other episodes where the guys were a bit more shy or had more criteria. That episode ended up being my favourite.
GS: Singaporeans are often seen as more “reserved” when it comes to love. Did Ok! Chope prove that stereotype wrong?
SS: I’m not sure if it completely proves the stereotype wrong, but Singaporeans are definitely more upfront about what they don’t like than what they do. Making this show highlighted a lot of cultural norms, which was really interesting to see during filming. It was also relatable—many experiences the girls shared versus the guys were very familiar. Singaporeans may be reserved, but when faced with something they don’t like, they’re anything but reserved in their reactions. That’s also why I brought in Malaysian contestants—their candidness and open-mindedness elevated the energy and encouraged Singaporean contestants to express themselves more freely.
GS: Do you think dating shows can actually help people find real connections in today’s swipe-heavy world?
SS: The crazy thing is that this dating show actually ended with a few couples. I won’t give it all away because you have to watch it, but I do think it can help people form real connections in the dating scene, because all contestants went there with a certain motive, and when their motives overlap, it helped them to genuinely connect.
GS: If you had to describe Singaporean dating culture in three terms, what would they be?
SS: Closed-off, high expectations, fearful of rejection. Honestly, that’s why I think so many people are single in Singapore.
GS: How do you think Gen Z approaches love differently from older generations here?
SS: From the Gen Z episode, I noticed they are serious about the potential matches they pursue—they’re looking for The One from the start. That can be good, but also challenging, because very high expectations sometimes prevent real connections from forming.
GS: How has working on Ok! Chope shaped or changed your own views on relationships?
SS: It hasn’t changed my views—if anything, it reinforced them. I believe it’s important to give people a chance, because life is short, and because love sometimes come in unexpected ways.
Ok! Chope premieres on 10 September, 8pm.
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