First Dates couple bond over love of royal family
What did you miss?
First Dates couple Will and Zara bonded over their shared love of the royal family.
The Channel 4 dating show is celebrating its 10th anniversary and returned for its 22nd series with four new couples looking for love.
William, 24, from Walton-on-Thames was matched with with 23-year-old Zara, from London and both revealed they were on their first ever date. Zara revealed she was such a devoted royalist she queued for 27 hours to see the late Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, while Will casually replied he had met the Queen while walking his dog in Scotland.
Viewers loved the young couple and were delighted when they said they would see each other again.
What, how, and why?
The Channel 4 dating show was back on Tuesday night with philosophical French maitre d' Fred Sirieix, bartender Merlin Griffiths — who was given the all-clear from cancer in 2023 — and waitress Cici Coleman. They are joined by Francesca Martu from spin-off series First Dates Hotel and new waitering staff Kofi Yeboah-Mensah, Aoife Smyth and Jamie McCleave. The First Dates restaurant has been relocated to The Botanist in the historic city of Bath for its 22nd series.
Devoted royalist Zara was matched with Will, who has a stammer, and confessed to camera that he has never kissed a girl.
But the date went well when Will revealed he had met The Queen. He said: "I have had one celebrity encounter which no one can believe me when I first say it. I met The Queen when I was dog walking. I love the royal family." Zara gasped: "You met The Queen?! I'm obsessed with the royal family. I was the in the first 50 people to see The Queen's coffin. 27 hours I was outside - die hard fan."
Will replied: "I've seen 90 per cent the royal family just while I was walking in the Highlands. My dog once tried to jump into Camilla's Range Rover." Zara said: "So cool!"
She added: "I'm so glad you like the royal family as well, because otherwise I was going to feel so awkward if you were like, 'Oh, no, I'm a Republican.'"
Asked if they would see each other again they both said yes and agreed the date had been "tickety boo". Zara added: "I'm still so jealous that you've met the Queen in person."
At the end of the episode it was revealed the pair had met for a second date in London.
What did viewers say?
Viewers loved Will and Zara and were so happy they were a successful couple.
One wrote on social media platform X: "Oh my goodness Will and Zara, love them #firstdates" Another said: "Tickety boo…..Aww #firstdates" And another shared: "William and Zara make a lovely young couple… #firstdates" One viewer commented: "William & Zara are a lovely couple. Well done #firstdates" And First Dates barman Merlin Griffiths replied: "Couldn't agree more. #FirstDates"
But some viewers had misread the chemistry between the pair.
Read more: First Dates
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One posted: "A bit surprised by that one tbf, thought Zara would say no! #FirstDates" While another tweeted: "Love the young couple but sadly she too hot for him #FirstDates"
Other viewers were just delighted to have the show back on screens helping people find love.
One wrote: "#firstdates Great new episode! Thank you producers for breaking us back in gently." Another gushed: "#firstdates smiling and feeling warm and happy esp last couple. All nice people." And another agreed: "Fabulous love it welcome back #FirstDates"
What else happened on First Dates?
Fire performance artist Hayley, 41, from Hertfordshire, who has a 13-month-old daughter revealed she is still breastfeeding and pumps before she goes on a date. She was matched with 44-year-old business owner Glen, 44, from Milton Keynes who was married for 20 years and has four children.
Glen told Hayley: "You look great, I'm quite chuffed actually."
The pair shared a kiss over a cookie dough sharer dessert and agreed they would both like to see each other again. Hayley told him: "I would love to see you again. I thought you were lovely. I thought the day it went really well. But it's fine if you don't want to." Glen replied: "I did say that I wanted to. I said I had a really good date too, I thought it was good. We had a good fun, good chemistry you seemed really nice. Good person."
The pair are still dating six months on.
Sarah, 36, from Port Talbot in Wales, and Dan, 31, Cwmbran, South Wales bonded over their face tattoos. The pair both agreed they found themselves judged for their looks, but Dan surprised Sarah, and viewers by revealing his softer side. The 31-year-old ordered a Cointreau and lemonade to drink, which he claimed tasted like Skittles, he has two pet Chihuahuas and he loves bubble baths and rom coms.
But after accepting Dan's offer to pay for the meal, Sarah said he wasn't her type and she didn't want to see him again.
Ashauna, 34, and 38-year-old Kurt bonded over their shared love of gospel reggae and being parents to young sons. Ashauna discussed her self-esteem issues after facing dating discrimination over her albinism and Kurt offered a supportive ear. They agreed to see one another again and Kurt is planning to cook her a meal.
First Dates Series 22 is airing on Channel 4 at 10pm on Tuesdays.
This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/first-dates-couple-royal-family-223453191.html
