First Dates: Channel 4’s brilliant dating show returns for more awkward conversations, weird metaphors, and nervous diners in Series 4

More hopefuls enter the Paternoster Chop House hoping to meet that special someone
No pressure: First Dates is back for more awkward conversations and potential romance
Channel 4
Ben Travis10 September 2015

At last, it’s time to return to the First Dates restaurant with Channel 4’s brilliant (and increasingly popular) reality show.

What happens when you fill an eatery with a bunch of singletons all looking for a partner? Anyone who’s watched the previous series will know to expect an addictive mix of OTT flirting, awkward conversation, and bizarre personalities.

First up in the opening episode of Series 4 is Anna, who dreads people inevitably likening her to Catherine Tate, and who needs a new +1 so that she doesn’t have to take her grandma to family events with her anymore. However, her date is Liam, a guy who decides to brings up his habit for going naked on sunbeds on his first time meeting somebody, and who makes a first impression with a dodgy ‘gazelle hunting’ metaphor.

Then there’s Michael Jackson devotee Amber, whose ‘spiritual’ side isn’t shared by her more pragmatic beardy music writer date Louis, who orders plenty of drinks through the evening, but remains sober enough to get a calculator out to accurately split the bill at the end of the night.

Meanwhile, another Louis - this one polite but shy - clams up as soon as he meets his date Adela, struggling to initiate conversation that extends far beyond the intense realms of political policy. His attempt to overcome his nerves and ease into an undeniably difficult social situation is a perfect example of the show’s ability to balance cringeworthy moments with genuine heart.

We also finally get to see the date of supermarket worker Josh, whose “you’re a cracker” chat-up line featured in the opening sequence of every episode of the show's last series – he’s paired up with Soraya, who owns her status as a ‘crazy cat lady’.

Gogglebox: The families

1/13

In short: it’s First Dates just how you’ve always liked it - weird, funny, and sweet. Welcome back.

Channel 4, 9pm

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