First dates... are they all just actors?

[stellenbosch]

I USED to love First Dates. But this season they look like lookalikes (not last weeks deliberate lookalike episode, but generally). And, it all seems so contrived.

AIBU to think it all seems too scripted now?

[LucyAutumn]

NO! My friend went on- bless her! She kept it secret from most of us till it came out. She said they plied her with alcohol though and made her wait ages. The taxis were fake.

[jay55]

It used to be people who wanted a date. Now it’s people who have had a great tragedy who want a date.

[BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot]

They're not actors but are heavily manipulated by the production team

[LurkingQuietly]

No, I know someone on the production team and they genuinely care about making good matches.

[Puffycat]

If they are actors god help Equity and the future of modern TV/drama and theatre

[Muddlingalongalone]

A guy at work went to a wedding last summer of a couple who met on first dates but were never shown on tv.

[GrasshopperLane]

@Muddlingalongalone they should now show heir date and do the wedding story!

[stellenbosch]

A wedding? And it wasn't shown!! noooooooo!

[GrimDamnFanjo]

I know that a lot of the waiting staff are. Fred and Merlin are real.

[Whenwillitgeteasier]

Not actors...a chap I was going out with for a few month last year was on the last series - a friend told me she'd seen him on it so obviously i had to find the episode to watch!

[ShovingLeopard]

Somebody I used to know from work went on it last year (not acting type of work!). He was an utter arsehole. It seems he hasn't changed much.

[Mousefunky]

I can’t stand the new series. It’s turned into a first dates version of BGT, everyone seems to have a sob story.

[Philomena27]

They all seem to have really nice shiny white teeth!

[Wildlingofthewest]

They obviously pick the most “interesting@ people/couples to be featured on the show. Of course it’s going to attract fame wannabes/odd balls/bizzare matches as these all make for good tv!
The waiting staff are all jobbing actors - no secret there and they have active open social media pages. The restaurant is real and operates normally while not being used for filming ( Paternoster Chop House at St Paul’s) but none of the staff you see on the show actually work there normally!

[EdWinchester]

I know someone that went on and had a horrible date but it was never shown.

The waiting staff don’t actually work there outside of filming. I have seen Fred at Windows on Park Lane. Not sure if he still works there.

[Mmmmmmmchips]

No you can just go on dates and you can decide whether you want to be shown on Yv

[Mmmmmmmchips]

Tv even

[Armchairanachist]

My husband's friend of many years was on a few weeks ago. He wrote a kid's song, which was previously his claim to fame.

[muffinthepuffin]

👍🏻 I have a friend of a friend who's a maths teacher and was on the last series. Got good chat and nice looking which helps!