First Dates (Series 21, Episode 2)

Fred Sirieix opens up the First Dates restaurant for the second episode of the new series.

Opening the show at the restaurant are an eclectic double-date duo: mother and son, Andrea and Stephan. Andrea’s dream date is someone sophisticated, well-cultured and fiery, while Stephan’s main hope is that his mum keeps the embarrassment at bay.

Mark, who catches Andrea’s eye, finds himself a bit rusty in the dating game. Meanwhile, Stephan pairs up with Alicia, a recent art therapy graduate eager to leave her single days behind. Sparks fly as their date unfolds with unexpected chemistry. A chance encounter in the ladies’ room between Alicia and Andrea raises the stakes: how will Alicia handle meeting her date’s mum so soon?

Then, there’s Diane, vibrant at seventy and unwilling to let age dictate her love life. She’s paired with ‘Neil the Wheel’, a retired truck driver with a penchant for singing. Their energetic connection is fuelled by shared love for Lancashire, Peter Kay, and a zest for life.

Lastly, Adam, a bagpipe instructor disheartened by online dating, meets Conor, a fellow Scot. Will Conor be the melody to lift Adam’s spirits? Their date, though sweet, is laced with clumsy moments, mishaps, and even a dramatic fall.

First Dates airs on Channel 4 on Tuesday, 16 January 2024 at 10:00PM.

The episode is the second from the show’s twenty-first series.