Jiangsu Satellite TV's If You Are the One (Fei Cheng Wu Rao) is in the news not for the attraction between its contestants, but for the increasing international audience drawn to the dating program since it landed in Italy on Monday.

The show now has its 20 participants, including overseas Chinese and Italian nationals, for the new series, host Meng Fei said at a press conference in Milan.

"I was surprised to hear that If You Are the One is extremely popular abroad, even more than in China," he told Xinhua.

Every Saturday and Sunday night on Jiangsu Satellite Television, a jury of 24 single women question one guy and decide whether he should remain on the show.

The guy can choose his favorite girl and if he makes it through the selection, he will have a chance to pick her for a date. Some of the previous contestants have become famous.

The show combines the most attractive elements from soap operas and reality TV and has aroused the public's interest in many contemporary issues, Meng noted.

For example, outspoken remarks have broken out on topics such as the income gap between the rich and the poor, being single, whether a couple should live with parents and if car and house ownership matter more than love.

Since it was launched in 2010, If You Are the One has already toured in several countries worldwide, including Australia, the US, South Korea, France and Germany.

The participation of guys and girls from all around the world has allowed the show to spread knowledge of other societies as well as highlight intercultural topics.

"We want to enhance the most peculiar points from every culture we get acquainted with," Meng said.

Meng also disclosed that the next destination of the show could be Spain.

Xinhua