Production
The production was filmed at the Paternoster Chop House restaurant in Paternoster Square, central London from 2013 to 2020, showing many people on dates, none of whom have met each other before. At the end of the date, the couples are interviewed together and asked whether they would like to see each other again. The restaurant is closed to the public while filming takes place. The restaurant is fitted with 42 "Pan–tilt–zoom" cameras and there are at least 70 crew members on set during filming, which lasts 15 hours a day. Each diner is given £25 towards the cost of their meal.
The spin-off show, First Dates Hotel, follows the same TV format with contestants meeting for the first time in a hotel restaurant, but if the date goes well, the couples are offered the opportunity to check in for the night. The first series was filmed at Le Vieux Castillon in Castillon-du-Gard [2] offering idyllic settings with a variety of activities for the successful second daters, and added sommelier Xavier Chapelou to Fred Sirieix's team. The second series was filmed at Aquapetra Resort & Spa in Campania near Naples, Italy. [2] [3]
In 2020, it was announced that filming would move to Manchester. The specific location was later confirmed in January 2021, when it was announced that the ninth series would begin airing on 19 January 2021, in the new location of The Refinery, located in Spinningfields, in Manchester. [4]
Another spin-off show, Teen First Dates, began airing on E4 on 22 February 2021 and consisted of 6 episodes. Each episode was also available to stream on All 4. Following the same format as the parent show and also taking place at Spinningfields, it follows 16-19 year olds as they begin dating for the first time. Series 2 began airing on 23 February 2022.
In July 2023, it was announced that filming would be relocated to The Botanist bar & restaurant in Bath, Somerset for the 10th anniversary of the show. [5] Along with a new restaurant location, the tenth anniversary series will launch brand-new cast members as well as a format refresh.
In the summer of 2025, filming will start in the Mediterranean on another spin-off show, First Dates Beach Club. [6]
Restaurant staff
Since series 3 (2015) the restaurant's maître d'hôtel Fred Sirieix offers pieces to camera on the nature of love, romance and dating. [7] When not filming for First Dates, he was the general manager at restaurant Galvin at Windows, although he left in December 2019 after 14 years. [8]
The waiting staff and barman do not work in the restaurant full-time, but are recruited for when the series is being filmed. Surrey-born [9] Laura Nicole Tott [10] left the show, in 2021, [11] to train as a Paramedic, get married and gave birth to their son in 2023. [12] She hasn't ruled out a return at some stage. [13] Oxford-born [14] CiCi Coleman is an actor [15] [16] [17] [18] who trained at New York Film Academy. The waiting staff are joined by Sam Conrad, [19] Austin Ventour, [19] Aoife Smyth, [20] Grant Urquhart, David Marc and Daniella Kalita. [21]
London-born and Cheltenham-raised barman Merlin Griffiths was [22] a pub landlord [23] now owning a chain of pubs, [24] who had previously worked as a global brand ambassador for Bombay Sapphire gin. [25] Griffiths also works alongside co-bartender Fiona Beck who as well as working in the First Dates restaurant, has a career in advertising. She has also worked as a model in the past, featuring in fashion shows in Paris, Barcelona and New York. [26]
International versions
The format created in the United Kingdom has been adapted in Belgium, Finland, Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Australia, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand, Italy, Poland, USA, France, Brazil, Israel, Sweden, Norway, Argentina, Portugal, Austria, South Africa and Greece.
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