RTS Futures

Event Report: First Dates Uncovered

First Dates C4

The Twenty Twenty Television production is that rare thing among dating shows – it wants audiences to like, not laugh at its lovelorn participants.

“The programme comes out of the docs department of Channel 4 so it’s not an entertainment programme, although it is entertaining,” said Sayers, who produces the series. “As much as it’s about love, dating and the funny, flirty, sexy things happening in the restaurant, it’s a documentary about people.”

First Dates has this amazing way of tackling big topics and themes,” she added.

First Dates: Top Moments Round-up

First Dates Channel 4

Now in its sixth season, First Dates captures the pursuit of love along with the sparks or burns that can emerge from being on a first date with a stranger. The series has seen many ups, downs, tears and laughter, so we've rounded-up some of the notable moments that have happened so far.

Scott proposes to Victoria

They met three weeks prior and immediately got on like a house on fire, proceeding to move in together. You've got to love the ring he gave her... one of a kind.

Bristol buzzes with media festival fun

Attendees enjoying a session at the Bristol Futures Festival (Credit: (Credit: Ellie Kynaston)

"Mists and mellow fruitfulness” means festival season in Bristol. This is when the city’s creative sector comes together to celebrate its talent and share a sense of belonging. 

A festival is all about entertainment. Those festivals with a specific focus on cultural groups often seek to inform community members of their traditions and involve elders who share stories and experiences. 

That couldn’t be a more fitting description for the creative-industry family that calls Bristol home. 

The naked adventurer: survival expert Ed Stafford takes on TV

Ed Stafford is more than an adventurer. The first man to walk the length of the Amazon is also a film-maker of some repute. At an RTS Futures event, he presented a self-shooting masterclass illustrated by clips from his survival programmes.

In 2008, equipped with cameras from Ginger TV (the company that hired him), Stafford set out from the Peruvian Andes to begin a 9,700km quest to walk the Amazon.

Event Report: Bristol Futures Festival

RTS Bristol Futures Festival (Credit: Ellie Kynaston)

The festival – held at the Watershed, Bristol on 1 November – gave students the opportunity to meet local indies such as RDF West, Silverback Films and Tigress Productions, as well as BBC Bristol Popular Factual, ITV News West Country and post-production houses.

In a buzzing atmosphere and to the backdrop of a DJ, students were encouraged to chat to the experts – from shooting researchers and production journalists to managing directors – and ask for advice on how to break into the industry.

First Dates: Uncovered (RTS Futures)

But ​what does it take to create the magic in this show and how do you break through into this ever popular genre?

With unashamedly hopeful ​and positive outlook, who doesn’t root for the optimistic First Daters - including the celebrities? Did you cross your fingers and hope Esther Rantzen would find ‘someone to do nothing with’, or Musharaf would meet someone who understood him?