Fred de Palma joins Too Hot to Handle: Italy as co-host in Netflix's bold celibacy challenge
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Fred De Palma (Image via Instagram @freddepalma)Too Hot to Handle: Italy premiered on Netflix on July 18, 2025 bringing a fresh batch of 10 singles from all over Italy to face the show's trademark twist. The participants showed up at a fancy villa in Santo Domingo thinking they'd joined a laid-back, party-focused dating show.
But in the first episode Italian rapper and singer Fred de Palma dropped the bombshell: to grab the €100,000 prize, the group had to avoid all sexual contact.
Fred started off pretending to host a fake show to keep the surprise under wraps helping to set the stage for the big reveal.
His presence gave both contestants and viewers a familiar face to latch onto. Once the truth came out, the contestants met Lana, the show's cone-shaped AI host, who'd be keeping an eye on their behavior throughout their stay.
The Italian version comes after other international editions in Brazil, Germany, and Latin America.
With Fred de Palma on board and a cast that mixes typical reality TV types with people from different walks of life Too Hot to Handle: Italy puts an Italian spin on the global dating experiment focusing on the challenge of building stronger connections without getting physical.
Fred de Palma sets the trap in episode 1 reveal of Too Hot to Handle: Italy
In the premiere episode of Too Hot to Handle: Italy, Fred de Palma played a key role in launching the show's signature deception.
Appearing as the fake host of a sensual reality dating series, he welcomed the contestants to the villa and encouraged them to embrace the flirtatious atmosphere.
The cast believed they were on a show designed for casual romance, and Fred’s opening speech reinforced that narrative.
The turning point came when Fred gathered everyone for a formal announcement. With the contestants assembled, he revealed that the show was not what they expected.
The group reacted with surprise, laughter, and visible discomfort. Some expressed doubt over their ability to stick to the rules, while others began reassessing their strategies.
Fred exited after his reveal, leaving the AI host Lana to take over enforcement of the rules.
Fred’s celebrity presence helped ground the twist in an Italian cultural context.
Known for his music and public persona, his role as the face of the initial hoax lent credibility to the setup and ensured a dramatic reaction. His involvement was limited to the first episode, but it established the stakes and tone of the season.
Lana took over as rules were introduced in Too Hot to Handle: Italy
After Fred de Palma left, the group met Lana, the AI in charge of watching their actions in Too Hot to Handle: Italy.
Lana, shaped like a cone, lit up and spoke with the voice of Greta Bortolotti. She told the contestants they were now part of a celibacy challenge.
Lana explained the four main rules: no kissing, no touching, no s*x, and no self-gratification. Breaking any rule would reduce the shared prize of €100,000.
Beatrice Caggiula was the narrator, giving funny and helpful comments from outside the villa to show how the contestants were reacting. The rules quickly changed the mood in the villa.
Some people talked about whether they could still build real connections without being physical. Others were nervous that someone’s mistake could cost the whole group money.
The show also introduced workshops and tasks to help the group grow emotionally and bond without physical touch.
These were only shown briefly in the first episode, but Lana made it clear they would be important later.
The contestants now had to adjust to a new situation—where acting on impulse could affect not just themselves but everyone in the villa.
Stay tuned for more updates.
TOPICS: Too Hot to Handle, Netflix, Too Hot to Handle: Netflix, Fred De Palma, Reality TV