First Dates

“We’re looking for people who are going to surprise us... humour is a huge thing on First Dates... especially the teenagers’ [show]. Teenagers are so funny, even when they don’t mean to be,” said Rosie Smith, a casting producer at Twenty Twenty Television who has worked on Chan­nel 4 series Teen First Dates.

“Relatability” is also important, as are “layers”, she added. “You want some­ one’s story to unfold on screen.... Finally, [you want] someone who’s keen on your programme.”

Here are some of the most memorable dates to set foot in the First Dates restaurant. 

The time they matched a former couple 

Imagine you send in your application for First Dates, get told you have a match, get ready and excited for your blind date...only to see the ex who broke your heart walk in. 

First Dates

Tuesday 19 January 

Channel 4, 10pm 

Despite the pandemic making it harder to find love, the First Dates team are back to help singletons find the joy in dating again. 

Mary Berry Saves Christmas 

BBC One, 6:30pm 

Mary Berry is here to give you the best Christmas possible, even if it looks a little different to what you’re used to. 

The six-part series will see a group of 16-19-year olds embark on the often weird and sometimes wonderful world of dating, with their first ever face-to-face blind date.

While the Gen-Zers may not be looking to find ‘the one’, they will be able to have fun away from their phones and the pressures of social media and enjoy chatting about everything from Nicki Minaj to Brexit.

Honour

Monday 28^th September, Tuesday 29^th September

ITV, 9pm

ITV adds to their slate of gripping dramas with the brand-new crime procedural Honour, starring Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard).

The series follows the true story of the murder of 20-year-old Londoner Banaz Mahmod in 2006.

With everyone unable to leave the house to meet up with their latest dating app match, the only option is to live vicariously through others or brave a first date over FaceTime.

Here are some of the best dating shows to keep you company while social distancing.

Love Is Blind – Netflix

The social dating experiment, Love Is Blind, was a Netflix sensation and has already been renewed for two more series following its success.

First Dates originally aired in 2013 and the popular format has been repeated in over 20 territories, with a spin off show, First Dates Hotel, created in 2017 taking the search for love to France and Italy.

Hundreds of couples have been matched up in the search for their soulmate, with the help of Maître d’ Fred Sirieix and his team.

The show has led to a host of engagements, marriages and even a baby.

The series production company, Twenty Twenty, has moved First Dates to Manchester as part of their commitment to UK regions.

In the aim to fight cancer, the RTS award-winning Stand Up To Cancer resumes tradition with a live-special with stars all across entertainment, sport and music rallying together to raise money for life saving research.

Maya Jama (The Circle), Alan Carr (Chatty Man) and Adam Hills (The Last Leg) will be presenting this year’s live extravaganza, which will be filled to the brim with an array of humorous sketches and tear-jerking awareness shorts.