KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 21 -- For most people on a dating show, the person helping them navigate romance is part of the production team, but for Malaysian Olivia Law, her wingman was her friend Yuki Chong.

The Johor natives are among the participants in Wingman, Mediacorp's new 12-episode Singapore reality dating show, adding a Malaysian dimension to a format that draws on the growing popularity of dating shows across South-east Asia.

For Law, 29, that meant having Chong, 25, by her side as she navigated the dating experience, while Chong had to help create opportunities for her friend to connect with the other contestants.

The pair had never appeared on a reality dating show before and only decided to audition after coming across an onlin...