THEY say a mother knows best — but would you trust her with your love life?Matthew Kenny, 28, of Cronulla, never thought he would give his mother control over his dating.But when a casting agent scouted him at Northies for a reality series a year ago, he decided to give it a shot.

Mr Kenny and his mother Karen Kenny, 53, of Gymea, are contestants on Channel Seven’s new show Please Marry My Boy.

It is an experiment in romance that gives four mothers a chance to find love for their sons, and is hosted by St George resident and Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou.

Mother and son meet 10 girls on a speed date before the mum selects her top three candidates.

The chosen girls then move in with son and mum before they go through a series of challenges, with mum picking the final girl.

Ms Kenny was a little surprised when her son asked her to do the show, but backed him all the way.

The high school teacher and mother of seven (five daughters and two sons) said she had never been involved in her son’s relationships.

“I looked for girls who were honest, down-to-earth and had a good personality,” Ms Kenny said.

“I think he was pleased with the girls I picked.”

Mr Kenny said it was their unconventional relationship that shocked and won over the casting agents for the show. The refrigeration and airconditioning technician said they had an untypical type of love.

“We’re not the ‘loving’ type of family,” said Mr Kenny, who had to move back home to Gymea during filming.

“We make fun of each other, and we occasionally argue; that’s our way of being affectionate.”

Mr Kenny had just one selection criterion for his mother — no girls with the same type of loud and outgoing personality like hers.

“Mum likes to pick girls who remind her of her,” Mr Kenny said.

“I’ve been surrounded by five of those personalities with my sisters all my life, and I just want someone quieter.

“My ideal girl would be confident without being loud, and be naturally beautiful inside and out.”

With no hints as to whether Mr Kenny found true love on the show, his mother said she took his thoughts into consideration with her final decision, which she did not do in the first episode (on January 30).

Mr Kenny said he was not sure he wanted his mum’s romantic guidance in future. Channel Seven’s Please Marry My Boy is at 8.30pm on Monday nights.

St George and Sutherland Shire Leader.