A collection of the best stories from First Dates, the greatest show on TV, to comfort you this Valentine’s

When they’re over 80 I can’t watch it’s too much


Nobody knows more about love than Fred Sirieix, the maitre d’ in the First Dates restaurant. From the moment the show starts and he looks at you, sorry, the camera, with his piercing blue eyes and gives you some sage romantic advice in his heavy French accent, you know you’re in a safe pair of hands.

No matter what he says it’s inherently romantic. For instance, here he is complaining on Twitter about Chris Eubank Jnr. But I bet you still think it’s lovely.

That’s the magic of First Dates. It makes you believe in love, and then, inevitably the absence of love (when they argue over the bill or one of them unexpectedly admits they don’t fancy the other person). For an admittedly pretty basic reality programme, it’s great. Whether you’re alone or coupled up today, everyone can take comfort in binge watching First Dates. It’s universal.

The girl who got stood up so ended up having a date with the waiter instead

The girls who hugged to say hello and immediately accidentally flashed each other

This guy who just got interrogated about being a virgin over the dinner table

This couple who went on a date when they were kids and I’m not crying you’re crying

This arsehole who asked his date how many people she’d slept with BEFORE THE DINNER WAS EVEN OVER

This terrible terrible mistake which I can only watch through my fingers

And a similar man who for some reason – maybe he’s evil – does not tip service staff

“You can have the most amazing beard in the world but if you don’t have manners it’s not gonna work out is it?” – truer words have never been spoken. And those words should not be met with “sorry if I shitted on your day”.

This awkward double whammy of being stood up and getting your date’s age wrong (watch until the end if you can)

This man, with very strong eyebrows, who forgot his date’s name

And this heartwrenchingly adorable elderly couple

It’s not all bad in this world.