Now’s undercover dater reveals the behind the scenes First Dates secrets...
If you thought Channel 4’s First Daters just waltzed on into the swanky First Dates restaurant for a bit of fine dining with a handsome stranger, you’re sadly mistaken! We spoke to one anonymous dater who exclusively revealed all the dating secrets you never knew about the show…
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Where’s it filmed? Is it a real restaurant? Can I eat there?
The answer is: yes, yes and yes! The show’s filmed at the very fancy Paternoster Chop House restaurant in central London, next to St Paul’s Cathedral. When it’s not closed for filming, you can indeed eat there. Mind you, you’ll have to book in advance – it’s very popular now that it’s so famous.
So what happens before the date takes place?
Before even setting foot in the restaurant, each dater is stored in a holding room in a nearby youth hostel for an hour or so while staff prep for their arrival. It’s not all bad though – while hanging out with guests staying at the budget accommodation, daters are able to feast on lots of goodies including crisps, chocolate and booze. ‘There was lots and lots of booze!’ laughs our secret dater.
Do they really have to pay for their meal, though?
Well, kind of. We’re told each dater is given £25 before arriving for their dinner – so that’s £50 per couple. ‘When you see the blokes offering to foot the bill at the end, bear in mind most of it’s already been paid for, as the set menu at the Chop House is £25 for three courses,’ says our insider. ‘Obviously, that doesn’t include cocktails at £8 a pop.’
Are the staff real?
Most of them are. However, waitress CiCi is actually a trained actress. Before rocking up to the First Dates restaurant, she starred in small movies and stage productions in both London and New York. Our secret dater tells Now: ‘It gets confusing when one waitress pretends to take your order, then a real one comes over and actually takes it.’ Hmm… which one are you meant to tip?
Is it like starring on a TV show or is it all really, well, real?
Yes and no. The fixed cameras are remotely operated from a store cupboard by the toilet to make the dates seem as normal as possible, but another dater Alliee Broad, who appeared on the show in April, revealed: ‘You can’t see the cameras so it is like you’re on a real date. But one point we were asked to say some stuff again as I’d been fiddling with my microphone.’ Daters are also dragged out mid-meal to do pieces to camera in the toilet – the glam side of television!
First Dates is on Channel 4 at 10pm on Thursdays
The post All the First Dates backstage secrets, REVEALED! appeared first on Now magazine.