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00:02Do you feel a bit rusty? Yes, very rusty. Definitely need a WD for our day. I need some
00:09help. It's hard out there. I am very single at the moment. I've run out of swipes. I've
00:16completed Tinder. In the heart of Britain's most romantic city, Fred and his team, this is Captain
00:26Fur Potato, are matching hopeful singletons. We're getting married, Merlin. In a place where love is always on the menu.
00:35I've got a bit in your finger. You didn't go that far down the strip. These daters. He probably thinks
00:42I'm having a poo or something. Are searching for the one. Would you chase me around the bedroom? Absolutely. Get
00:51your coat. I'm in. For some, stepping into the unknown.
00:57Can lead to surprising sparks. I work in the adult industry. Do you have an office for that? I have
01:03a dungeon. But finding a connection. A love story is about to begin. Shut up. Isn't always easy. Please tell
01:13me you actually last longer than three minutes.
01:18Help me. In the end. Hi. It comes down to one. Nice to see you here. Big question. Would you
01:29guys like to see each other again? This isn't a total quiz, is it? This is the First Dates Restaurants.
01:44Working in a First Dates Restaurant, you never know who's going to walk through the door. And that's exciting.
01:50The boys watch the girls while the girls watch the girls go by. You see people from all walks of
01:54life.
01:55I've been doing burlesque for three years.
01:58I have travelled the world as a sing-out.
02:00I've spent most of my life studying toilets, talking to people about toilet paper.
02:05Everybody's got a different journey, but it all leads to our door.
02:10This is Aaron.
02:12I'm a huge hopeless romantic.
02:14A social activist and big dreamer, looking for his very own happily ever after.
02:21I've always wanted to get married ever since I was a kid.
02:24I've definitely pictured my wedding day in huge detail.
02:28Baby, you light up my world like nobody else.
02:32The way I envision it is just this beautiful evening full of light.
02:35You don't know you're beautiful.
02:36Like a big sort of old house.
02:38It's a double staircase.
02:40And we both come down, looking into each other's eyes.
02:43There will be a Domino's Pizza Buffet.
02:45I just want like a bowl of the garlic sauce.
02:48And like, just like loads of pizzas.
02:51That's what makes you beautiful.
02:53How are you, Aaron?
02:54Yeah, good. How are you?
02:56Lovely to meet you.
02:56Nice to meet you too.
02:57You're excited about it?
02:58Yeah, really excited.
03:00Yeah? You've been single long?
03:02I have to say about like six months.
03:04Just situationship, really.
03:05So things haven't really progressed past that point.
03:08Right. Why not?
03:10I think I'm colourblind, so I don't really see red flags.
03:14I tend to fall hard and fast for people, and I always believe the best in them.
03:18All right, come with me. Let me take you to the bar.
03:20I'd say like, man of life is very much like Bridget Jones combined with he's just not that into you.
03:26Where have you come from?
03:27Manchester.
03:28Manchester.
03:29How are you single living in Manchester?
03:31Like, seriously, you can't even walk down the street there without somebody trying to talk to you.
03:35Yeah, I think it's just gay culture though as well.
03:37Like, I think a lot of gay people aren't looking for that long term.
03:41They're looking for the short term.
03:42So it's a struggle then?
03:43It just seems as soon as you mention commitment, people like lose their mind.
03:46So what are you looking for? Who are you looking for?
03:49How do you like your blokes?
03:51Well, are you asking what my type is?
03:53Yeah.
03:53I do like masculine guys.
03:55I like someone who can be open with their emotions.
03:59And just someone that I can really get on with, you know?
04:00Yeah.
04:03Youth worker by day.
04:05Nightclub host by night.
04:08I made you all right.
04:10Nathan's love life is a total drag.
04:13What do you want to know about Vicky C?
04:18There she is.
04:19She's a beauty.
04:21Oh, she's a beast.
04:23She's literally a more masculine version of me.
04:26If that's even possible.
04:28All right, handsome.
04:29Is it Saturday Night Fever?
04:30It is Saturday Night Fever, absolutely.
04:32How are you doing? Nice to meet you.
04:33Very well. You all right?
04:34Love your jacket.
04:35Trendy. On style.
04:36You're ready for it?
04:37I think so.
04:38Do you find it difficult to meet people?
04:40What's the hurdle? What's the thing that just...
04:42Time.
04:44Confidence, I think.
04:46So...
04:46You don't strike me as somebody who doesn't have confidence.
04:49On the contrary.
04:51Depends on which context you're talking about, I suppose.
04:54I've been single now for over a decade.
04:58I'm working in bars and nightclubs
04:59where there's a constant flow of men.
05:02But it's not the right environment
05:04to meet someone in a serious capacity, I suppose.
05:09Hook-up culture is rife.
05:11Intimacy is what everybody wants.
05:13Sex is what everyone gets.
05:15You know your date as a wife?
05:16Yes.
05:17It's at the bar.
05:18If you just go discreetly like that...
05:21I know what I've seen.
05:22You've seen it, yeah?
05:23All right.
05:24Yeah.
05:25This is about to be interesting, Fred.
05:27I'm not going to lie to you.
05:29It's one of my friends.
05:30It's one of my friends.
05:33Well, that's good.
05:34So this is going to be interesting, isn't it?
05:35Very interesting.
05:37Oh, my God.
05:38Aaron!
05:40Victoria.
05:43Bye-bye!
05:44We're here with you.
05:45We're going, how are you?
05:46I'm all right, thanks.
05:47You all right?
05:49Yeah.
05:50This is so surreal.
05:51Honestly, I was so, like, nervous,
05:53and then you just turned up.
05:55Oh!
05:56This is actually crazy.
05:57This is actually crazy.
05:59Hello.
06:00Hiya, you all right?
06:00Yeah, not bad.
06:01Not bad.
06:01How's you?
06:03Much more at ease now,
06:04I'm sitting here with a friend.
06:06You know each other?
06:06Yeah.
06:07Oh, right, okay, cool.
06:07Where from and how am I?
06:09Uh, Manchester.
06:11We run in kind of the same social circles, so...
06:13Yeah.
06:15You guys are very lucky,
06:16because, you know,
06:17the hardest thing to establish
06:18in a relationship is trust.
06:20But you've already got that.
06:22Yeah.
06:23Yeah.
06:24All you have to inject
06:25is a little va-va-vous.
06:26Va-va-vous?
06:27Yeah, a little romantic je ne sais quoi.
06:29Shall we go to your table?
06:30Absolutely.
06:30To la table?
06:31To la table.
06:36Oh, thank you very much, ladies.
06:38Enjoy your date, have fun.
06:39Fabulous.
06:40Thank you so much.
06:47Hi.
06:48My name's Tracy.
06:5153.
06:52I'm looking for that special guy out there.
06:54I'll be.
06:59Former mayor Tracy
07:00wants someone special
07:02to share her favourite place
07:04in the world with.
07:07I am from a little town in West Yorkshire
07:10called Wakefield,
07:11a wonderful town.
07:12It's where I grew up.
07:13I've not lived anywhere else.
07:15So, I loved it that much
07:16I became the mayor.
07:19Good afternoon, Fred.
07:20How are you?
07:20All the better for seeing you.
07:22Thank you so much.
07:23Are you in the mood for love?
07:24I am definitely in the mood.
07:26I'm wearing the colour of love.
07:27Yeah, let's take your coat.
07:28Oh, that would be wonderful.
07:30I'm not your stereotypical mayor.
07:32I left school with no qualifications.
07:34I drink.
07:35I go out with my friends.
07:36I go to festivals.
07:37I've got a camper van.
07:39What can I get you to drink first?
07:40I would like to have
07:41a spicy margarita, please.
07:42A spicy margarita, yes.
07:44Add a little spice to the day,
07:45I think.
07:46Yeah, exactly.
07:47That's what I mean to go on.
07:49What do you miss about
07:50being in a relationship?
07:51Can I say sex?
07:55And tell me, what do you do?
07:56I'm a paramedic.
07:57You're a paramedic?
07:58I am, yes.
07:58Oh, wonderful.
07:59But I've only just become a paramedic.
08:01I was a technician before
08:01and worked my way up
08:03through the ranks.
08:04So, I graduated last year
08:05from the university.
08:06Congratulations.
08:07Age of 52.
08:08You're never too old
08:08to go back and learn.
08:09No, you're not.
08:10No.
08:11No, brilliant.
08:11There you go.
08:12Tell me about you and dating, then.
08:13Have you dated much?
08:14So, no, not much
08:15in the last three years.
08:16Wow.
08:17Yeah, so...
08:17Oh, this is a big day for you.
08:18This is a very big day for me.
08:20Tell me, what are you looking for?
08:21What do you like in a man?
08:22A good sense of humour.
08:24I like people that are kind.
08:25Kind?
08:26Yeah.
08:27And polite.
08:27How do you like them to look?
08:29I've no preference for my looks.
08:31What if it's short?
08:32Well, well,
08:33we're all the same.
08:34I'm lying down now.
08:36Oh, shit.
08:37Ready to plunge
08:38into his date
08:39with Tracy.
08:40Toilet roll salesman Stuart
08:42is wiped out
08:44from his search for love.
08:45Now, scrunching it
08:47reduces your surface area,
08:48doesn't it?
08:49Whereas if you fold it,
08:50you've got a bigger surface area,
08:51haven't you?
08:54The average person
08:55in an office environment
08:56will use a toilet
08:57three times a day
08:58and on average,
08:59they will use
09:00eight sheets of toilet paper
09:01per visit.
09:02But we don't want to talk
09:03about toilet paper
09:04on a first date.
09:04There's way more exciting
09:05things to talk about,
09:06isn't there,
09:07than that?
09:07Nice to meet you.
09:08And you.
09:09Love your shirt.
09:09You like pink?
09:11No, it's cherry blossom, Fred.
09:13Cherry blossom?
09:13No, I mean pink as a colour.
09:14Oh, yeah,
09:14do I like pink as a colour?
09:15Brilliant.
09:16How long have you been single?
09:1913 years,
09:20three months
09:20and 27 days,
09:22I think.
09:22Might be 28 days.
09:25I'm at a different point
09:26in my life now.
09:27Maybe it's time to
09:28re-evaluate my single bubble.
09:30Need someone to come along
09:31and try and burst it.
09:32Shall I take your jacket?
09:33Yes, please.
09:34No, take that.
09:35It'd be nice to meet someone
09:36who's got a lust for life.
09:37Someone confident.
09:38Someone who's comfortable
09:39in their own world.
09:41Have a nice day.
09:41Cheers, thank you.
09:43That's an awesome shirt.
09:45I'm Stuart, thank you.
09:46Tracy.
09:47Nice to meet you.
09:48Pleased to meet you.
09:48We're nearly matching, Stuart.
09:49I know.
09:50It's good, isn't it?
09:50You must have got the memo.
09:52I did.
09:53Grand.
09:53I need to put my glasses on.
09:54I can't see.
09:55You might not see him.
09:56Yeah.
09:56I can see them.
09:58What are you drinking?
09:59I'm on a spicy margarita.
10:00Oh, nice.
10:02This is Stuart.
10:02He got the memo about matching.
10:04I was going to say.
10:05Look at this.
10:07Joyous.
10:07Look at that shirt.
10:08That's awesome.
10:09What do you do for a living, then?
10:11So, I sell cleaning products
10:14for a living.
10:16Exciting stuff.
10:16So, I spend most of my life
10:17in the toilet talking to people
10:18about how to use toilet roll,
10:20which is good fun.
10:21It's good because it's
10:22recession-proof.
10:23Yeah.
10:23Yeah, everybody needs it.
10:24It's never going to go out of fashion,
10:26is it?
10:26No, not at all.
10:28Hi, friend.
10:29Can I take this?
10:29You come?
10:30Yes.
10:30Come with me.
10:34I haven't actually saw any of your shows yet.
10:36Like, obviously, I know that your drag name is Victoria,
10:39but...
10:39Yeah, which is pretty much how everyone knows me,
10:42to be fair.
10:42What is your actual name, then?
10:43Because, obviously, I...
10:44Well, unless it is Victoria.
10:45No, no, no, no, I'm Nathan.
10:47A lot of people only know me as Vic or Victoria,
10:52and she's amazing.
10:53And I could walk down the street as Vic,
10:54and everyone knows her.
10:56Everyone wants to be her friend.
10:57She's confident.
10:59Mm-hmm.
11:00But underneath it all, Nathan really wasn't.
11:04I will be ghosted so many times when they find out I've done drag,
11:08although I do drag.
11:09That's the gay community.
11:10It's brutal.
11:10Yeah, as soon as you were saying that,
11:11I was like, wow, I've never talked deeply like this before.
11:14No.
11:16I've been ghosted so many times.
11:19I think dating's difficult sometimes,
11:20because I can't always fully be myself.
11:23I often feel like I'm showing a different version of me,
11:26even though they're both me.
11:27I mean...
11:34For me, like, when I meet someone,
11:36that's the hardest thing,
11:37because it's like, well, when do I tell someone, you know?
11:40Absolutely.
11:42Has your hair ever caused you problems with dates?
11:46I was getting intimate with a guy,
11:48and, you know, they put their hand on my head
11:51and pulled, and the thing came off.
11:53And they screamed.
11:55I screamed, and I was like, oh, my God,
11:57this is, like, one of my worst fears.
11:59And, yeah, and then I did not see them again.
12:01I just sort of, like, ran out of there.
12:03And it's been like that since, you know, I was a kid.
12:05Yeah.
12:06So it started coming out in clumps when I was, like, 12 or 13 at school.
12:09I went to, like, a Catholic school.
12:11That is relevant, because at that point,
12:13losing my hair, being gay and stuff as well,
12:16everything was suppressed.
12:17I'd sit in my bed, talk to the ceiling.
12:20Obviously, I'd wish for my hair,
12:22but I'd also just wish not to be gay.
12:24I thought my word was going to crumble,
12:27but instead I did a TikTok video, posted it,
12:29and actually I got so many messages,
12:31and then I was like, okay, cool,
12:33so maybe being vulnerable is actually a good thing.
12:35It's insane how far I've actually came.
12:39I can't control people's reactions,
12:41but I can control how I respond to their behaviours.
12:44I am worthy of love. I deserve that.
12:46If you don't think that, fine, go and work on yourself.
12:49It's about war paint and armour.
12:51Yeah.
12:51And the hair system and drag are the armour
12:54to who we are underneath.
12:56But who we are underneath doesn't change.
12:59We're still that same person with the same morals
13:02and the same values.
13:03I don't think we would have ever spoke like this before.
13:05It was just really nice to, you know,
13:07hear things be so open about it, you know?
13:09It's a part of me I keep quite quiet, to be honest with you.
13:11I hold myself in a certain way.
13:13I'm very intimidating, I hold myself uptight,
13:15and I'm almost very unapproachable.
13:17Almost?
13:26Certain types of toilet paper, the really big rolls,
13:29you can pull it out really slowly,
13:30and they put it in the toilet so it gets wet,
13:33and then they flush the toilet,
13:34and it'll spin the whole toilet paper off down the toilet.
13:39You know, Cece, some of our older daters today,
13:42it feels as if they are really out of practice.
13:45They haven't been dating for so long,
13:47and they're going back on the horse,
13:49and they just have no idea how to do it.
13:51But what to do?
13:52I remember the toilet rolls at school that were like the...
13:54Tracing paper.
13:55Yeah.
13:57I mean, what were we thinking of?
14:00Cost.
14:03Hi, Gorge.
14:04Hello.
14:04How are you all right?
14:05Hello, how are we doing?
14:06Fabulous.
14:07Did I hear that you two might know each other?
14:09Yeah, so we are in the same friendship group,
14:12believe it or not,
14:12but, like, I wouldn't say, like, close friends, you know?
14:15So we've been in the rooms together at parties,
14:18we've pre-drunk together, we've been to clubs together,
14:20we've, you know, we've done it.
14:21Yeah.
14:21So we know each other socially.
14:25But romantically, you've never explored anything.
14:29Even before.
14:30No.
14:30No, but I think, obviously,
14:32I don't know how you feel about this,
14:33but being on this date, you know,
14:34I'm very much open to getting to know you, like...
14:37Absolutely.
14:45Matty, I'm not even joking, mate.
14:47I'm on a date with Victoria.
14:51Like...
14:51What?
14:55Where are you off to?
14:56I'm going to the cellar.
14:57Go to the basement.
14:59Oh, here we go.
15:00Take the lift.
15:02This was not on the bingo card.
15:03Of all the things that I thought might happen,
15:05like, this was not...
15:09Anyway, so I'm just giving you a quick update,
15:11and, yeah, I'll let you know how it goes.
15:14This is so wild!
15:16Sport.
15:17Wow, thank you very much, though.
15:19This looks awesome.
15:20I'm going to grab you another fork.
15:22Lovely job, thank you.
15:23More than welcome.
15:24So, have you always lived in Wakefield?
15:26Yes.
15:26And my family's still living in Wakefield,
15:28so my mum still lives,
15:29my mum and dad is still at the same house.
15:30Yeah.
15:30My kids live close by,
15:32so it's just dandy.
15:35My daughter was a mental health nurse.
15:37Wow.
15:38So, my eldest is a paramedic,
15:39and my youngest works for a layer of disabilities.
15:43We're all in caring professions.
15:45So, how did that come...
15:46Did it just happen by accident,
15:48or has everyone kind of just sort of migrated to that?
15:51Well, it's a funny story I'm going to tell you about.
15:56My oldest son, we adopted at birth, because I had him when I was 15.
16:01I kept the pregnancy secret for six months, and then told my parents about it.
16:05I knew that I couldn't look after him at 15.
16:08My mum and dad didn't have much money.
16:10It was difficult, more difficult than I thought it would be.
16:14Every year you think about it, every year you think, oh, it's his birthday,
16:17or every year you think, oh, I wonder what he's doing, or what he looks like,
16:19or I hope he's all right.
16:21All I ever wanted was for him to be happy.
16:24And when the law changed, and you were able to find your adopted children
16:28through an intermediary, I paid to find him.
16:31And we met, and everything just clicked into place,
16:33and I got a job with the ambulance service,
16:35and he was already a paramedic with the ambulance service.
16:37Oh, wow.
16:39I know you won't believe this, but it turned out I'd got a job
16:43at the same ambulance station that he was working at,
16:46and he was a paramedic.
16:48And it's lovely to see that he's had such a marvellous upbringing.
16:51Something that I did, it's not that you don't love them,
16:53it's the fact that, you know, you can't give them everything
16:55they need at that age.
16:57So he's had a lovely life, and I'm super proud of him.
17:01We all just melded into one big family.
17:03It was, obviously, like you say, it was meant to be.
17:05Yeah, yeah, yeah.
17:06There was a song there somewhere.
17:07There is, there is.
17:15Good game.
17:16I think that was a tie.
17:17There's no way, there is no way that was a tie,
17:20but good game.
17:21I'm trying to be a better loser, OK?
17:23That's OK.
17:26Hi.
17:27Ready.
17:28I made you look
17:30Cos I'm about to make a scene
17:32Double up that sunscreen
17:3327-year-old Verity is a barber
17:36who's looking for a man whose love won't fade.
17:40I get really mixed reactions from lads
17:43when I tell them I'm a barber.
17:45The weirdest chat-up line is
17:47just got to be like,
17:49when are you cutting my hair then?
17:51And I'm like, never now.
17:52You've just ruined it.
17:54I said I made you look...
17:56Hi.
17:57Hey, how are you, Verity?
17:58I'm good, thank you.
17:59Tell me, what do you do for a living?
18:00So, I am a barber.
18:01Are you?
18:02Yeah.
18:02Do you meet anybody in the salon?
18:05No, never.
18:06My date in life at the moment is literally non-existent.
18:09I don't really approach men.
18:12It's not even about, like, rejection.
18:13I just think I'm just scared.
18:16I just can't do it.
18:18How are you feeling?
18:19Yeah, I'm nervous.
18:20So, when was the last time you were dating?
18:22It's been, like, months, really.
18:23Yeah.
18:24Oh, perfect.
18:24Yeah, so it's going to be fun.
18:25And how do you like your guys to look?
18:27I like a, like, tall, dark and handsome.
18:29Yeah, and I like a trendy guy as well.
18:32Just, like, a happy, easy-going person.
18:35Yeah, happy-tappy.
18:36I want someone that's, like, sweet and gentle with me and confident, not cocky.
18:41I love, like, dark hair, like, a nice, neat beard.
18:46I like them tall.
18:49Verity's date is 6'5 Mancunian coach driver Liam.
18:54Have you ever been to London?
18:56Nope.
18:56This is the furthest you've ever been.
18:58Yeah, furthest south, yeah.
18:59Because I'm from Manchester, like, everything's there.
19:01I only go north, so I never come down.
19:04I suppose I ain't got a nosebleed coming this far.
19:06But this is how far you'll travel for love.
19:09Yeah, exactly, yeah.
19:10You're going to get one shot at the door.
19:11You can go as far as you can go.
19:13Nice to see you.
19:14Nice to see you.
19:15Nice to see you. Love you, haircut.
19:16Oh, cheers.
19:17Yeah.
19:18My ideal woman would be confident, funny, charming.
19:22Same as me.
19:23Just someone with my energy.
19:25Just happy.
19:27Cheers.
19:27Enjoy. Good luck.
19:29Hi, are you all right?
19:30Hi, are you all right?
19:31Sorry, I didn't realise it was you coming over.
19:34Oh, you've got a strong accent.
19:35I know.
19:36So have you?
19:36How about?
19:37Like, Leeds?
19:38Manchester.
19:39Oh, really?
19:39Sorry, I've gone too far.
19:41Hey, sir.
19:41How are you?
19:42Can I get a single pink gin and lemonade, please?
19:44A pink gin and lemonade?
19:45Yeah, sure thing.
19:46I'm a bit of a feminine drinker.
19:48No, that's fine.
19:48Do you like wine?
19:50Not really.
19:51It don't taste nice.
19:53You know what I think?
19:54You can't tell me that tastes nice.
19:55Yeah, I think it does.
19:57All our drink is, like, white wine, yeah?
19:58Obviously not, like, every minute of every day, but, like, yeah.
20:02No, I think Jim.
20:03What's your name, sorry?
20:04Liam.
20:05Liam and Verity.
20:06Verity?
20:07Yeah.
20:07Nice of you.
20:07Lovely name.
20:08You look lovely.
20:11What do you think of Bath?
20:12It's nice.
20:13This is the furthest south I've ever been.
20:15Really?
20:15Have you been to, like, London, the war?
20:17No.
20:17Have you never been to London?
20:19I mean, I'd like to go.
20:21Maybe you could tell me.
20:29I would say, like, a coconut, because, like, obviously, really hard shell, like...
20:36I've never been to a coconut, but I see your point.
20:40Yeah.
20:41Ridiculously hard exterior, and I do.
20:43I'm aware that I hold myself in a certain kind of way.
20:46I don't want to be vulnerable.
20:48Why do you feel like you can't be vulnerable anymore?
20:53Because, yeah, because, um, I don't want to go through the things I've been through again.
20:58Men are horrid.
21:00The last serious relationship I had, um, was a very long time ago.
21:06And I think I was very much so desperate to be loved by somebody that I was sucked into this
21:13relationship with this boy,
21:17who was just not a very nice person.
21:21And he really broke me because of how awful he really was.
21:29I don't think I've been ready to trust anyone again since him.
21:34Why did you come on this, then?
21:37Nearly 40 years old, and I genuinely can say that I don't think I've ever been in love.
21:42How hard is that?
21:43I think it might seem hard, but also, you said yourself, you know, that you find it really hard to
21:49be vulnerable.
21:50Then maybe you just haven't been vulnerable of the right person.
21:53Yeah, maybe that.
21:55Then I am a Taurus, so...
21:57Mmm.
21:58So our signs do match, actually.
21:59Do they?
22:00Yeah.
22:00I'll have to do a tarot card reading for you at some point then.
22:03Did you do one before today?
22:05So I did one yesterday.
22:06So what did they say?
22:07So the two of cups means the beginning of a relationship.
22:11Nine of cups is the fulfilment of an emotional wish.
22:15That, I do feel, describes the situation.
22:18Well, I hate to say it, but I think your card's read this day perfectly.
22:23Because that sounds pretty accurate.
22:30So what sort of food do you like?
22:33Um, I like Mexican, Indian, Italian, Chinese.
22:40Yeah, pretty much everything then.
22:41Yeah, yeah.
22:42That'd be better if I asked me then, what don't you like?
22:44Custard.
22:45You don't like custard?
22:46No.
22:47Why not?
22:47I've got a proper phobia about custard.
22:50Have you?
22:51It's a little bit weird, I know.
22:53So you're scared of custard?
22:54Yeah, so I've got a...
22:56I once bit into a donut that had custard in it and burst into tears.
23:00Oh, wow.
23:01Yes.
23:01I do love a custard donut.
23:06And what made you decide to pick this then?
23:09Oh, there's a number of reasons.
23:11So three years ago I got diagnosed with a brain tumour.
23:13Wow.
23:15Because of where it was, it had paralysed me down the left-hand side.
23:17So I went in in January 23 for my first stop
23:23and they thought it had all been quite successful.
23:25And then in May of 23, they started talking to me about chemo and radiotherapy,
23:29which scares the bejesus out of me.
23:31Yeah.
23:32And when they started talking about radio and chemo,
23:34they started talking about two years of life.
23:36So it was like, ooh, shit.
23:40So that's prompted my move back to Leeds.
23:42Yeah.
23:42My parents are close to them, so is my brother.
23:44Yeah.
23:45So when I got to Leeds, they were brilliant because they went, no, what we'll do is,
23:48we don't like radio, we don't like chemo, we'll crack you up again and we'll take it out.
23:51So I was like, all right, great.
23:52Okay.
23:52So they did that in Jan 24.
23:54Yeah.
23:55And now they're talking about 10 years of life.
23:56Well, sorry, 10 years treatment-free now.
23:59I suppose I'm resetting my life.
24:01Yeah, I thought, why not put myself out there and live a little bit?
24:05Before, it's kind of, you know, it's like you used to think about your retirement
24:08and getting your pension right and stuff like that.
24:10I don't care about any of that anymore.
24:11Yeah.
24:11So it's all about, no, let's just go out and live life and have some really good experiences.
24:14Absolutely.
24:16Definitely a life-changing moment.
24:19Sorry, I didn't ask how old are you.
24:21Oh, I'm not allowed to answer that.
24:23Yeah.
24:24I'm nearly 50.
24:25I have to keep reminding myself of that.
24:26What are you going to do for your 50, eh?
24:29I don't know, yeah.
24:30I've decided.
24:3350, it's a big thing.
24:34You need to do something spectacular.
24:37Yeah, it is.
24:38You're made it to 50.
24:39Woo!
24:39Like I said, it's a...
24:43I can't believe you're 6'5".
24:44I'm 5'4".
24:45Yeah, are you?
24:46Yeah, you're over a foot taller than me.
24:48It's like a whole Subway sandwich, yeah?
24:49I know, yeah, you actually are.
24:51A whole Subway sandwich.
24:53You actually are.
24:54That is crazy.
24:59As a queer person,
25:02Manchester has everything I've wanted.
25:04Mm-hmm.
25:06Um...
25:07Well, it's interesting you say that as well,
25:08because I feel like me and you are a little bit
25:10on the opposite end of the spectrum,
25:12not sexuality-wise,
25:13but I think for me,
25:15I've always struggled to have, like, gay friends,
25:18just because I feel like the community can be quite difficult,
25:21so...
25:22And also, like, quite judgmental.
25:24And also, then you've got the side of, like,
25:26trying to make a relationship work
25:27in Manchester's gay scene.
25:29Yeah, there's a lot of promiscuity on the scene.
25:32Hook-up culture...
25:33Yeah.
25:33...is rife.
25:36Um...
25:36And it's great for...
25:39for...
25:40the there and thens.
25:42Mm-hmm.
25:42Um, you know, we won't knock it.
25:44I've never had a hook-up.
25:45Ever.
25:45Have you not?
25:46No.
25:47Um, okay.
25:51Oh, can I open now?
25:52Yeah.
25:54Hiya.
25:54Hi.
25:55Hi.
25:57Yes, please.
25:58Could we get the check, please?
25:59Absolutely.
26:00We'll bring it over to you guys.
26:02Do you want to see each other again romantically?
26:07Do you want to be the big brave boy and say it?
26:09Go on then.
26:09Rather than putting you on the spot.
26:11For me, no.
26:12This is such a wonderful friendship.
26:14And I felt like I've got to know you so much deeper this evening
26:18in a way that is so lovely, but not romantically.
26:22Mm-hmm.
26:24Can we just grab that out?
26:25Spin it, yeah?
26:27That's what was really beautiful about tonight, actually,
26:29because it was the first time we've really engaged on a deep level
26:31outside of, you know, just the only thing that we had in common
26:36was being gay, because the group chat is called Gays R Us.
26:39Gays R Us.
26:40Yeah.
26:41It's 100% on you.
26:42Mine's not working.
26:45So is there definitely no way you two would consider each other?
26:49I mean, I'm not ruling it out.
26:52I was not expecting you to say that.
26:54You can ever say never.
26:56If I'm six pounds deep, I might hook up with you
26:59when I'm really, really drunk.
27:00Right, so when you can't see almost, you, right, okay.
27:06Honestly, of all the people I could have walked in to see,
27:09I'm so glad it was you.
27:10What are the chances, though?
27:11I know, but what a great story to take back
27:13to our friends in Manchester.
27:14I think we actually need to go for a drink.
27:16We do.
27:16There is a gay bar here.
27:17There's one.
27:18I've already Googled it and found it.
27:19Love it.
27:19So she would go out and get six pints in this?
27:26Next question.
27:32I think love is being able to be silent together
27:35and that that's okay.
27:38That you are both enough for each other
27:41so that therefore you don't have to fill the space with...
27:45I can't imagine you being quiet.
27:50What can I get you?
27:52Can we have the Korean fried chicken?
27:54Yep.
27:55The gambas pil pil and the potatoes bravas.
27:58Should we get some seasoned fries as well or something?
27:59Yeah, we'll get some chips as well then, yeah.
28:01Get some seasoned fries.
28:02Yeah, seasoned fries, yeah.
28:03No problem.
28:04It would be like your ideal first date.
28:07Probably something like this would be fair,
28:08like having some drinks, like food.
28:10I like doing fun stuff as well, you know,
28:12like going bowling and like crazy golf and stuff like that.
28:15I do like this.
28:16I like having to sit down and drinking food
28:18and trying new foods as well.
28:20Oh, I quite like that.
28:21Yeah.
28:21I'm going to try these prongs, haven't I?
28:23I've had these before.
28:23What are you going to do if you don't like it?
28:25I like it.
28:26What if you don't?
28:27No, I'll put on a brave face.
28:29Oh, it's so nice.
28:33Cheers, thank you.
28:35So, like, I have a question for you, right?
28:38Where do you think I'm from?
28:41Newcastle.
28:43So I sound like I am, but I'm not.
28:46Southern?
28:46No.
28:47It's got to be.
28:48No.
28:49I'm bad with accents, though.
28:50No, you're right, like, with the accent.
28:52Like, it's an Northeast accent.
28:53But I'm, like, I'm from, like, the Midlands.
28:58So this is a video of my old accent.
29:00I sound, like, so different.
29:02So this is the colour of it after I've stripped it.
29:06I'm going to put the dark blonde on it and see what happens.
29:12I can't believe that that's how I sound.
29:15It's a really strange feeling.
29:17I have a brain disorder, which caused my accent to change.
29:21Oh, really?
29:22Yes.
29:22Where are you going from?
29:23Yeah, so I have something called foreign accent syndrome.
29:26Right.
29:27October 2023, I had, like, one of the worst migraines in my life.
29:32And when I woke up, I couldn't speak.
29:35And as it was, like, starting to come back, I could just tell that I didn't sound like me.
29:41Got diagnosed with functional neurological disorder, which is where, like, my brain and nervous
29:47system isn't connected properly, which causes, like, malfunctions.
29:51Sometimes I have to wear hearing aids because if my brain's malfunctioning on that certain
29:54day, I can't hear properly.
29:56It's really, like, affected my life massively.
29:59And then I end up with, like, a different accent, so...
30:02It's a lot.
30:03Only person.
30:04Yeah, literally.
30:06Yeah, it was a bit crazy, so...
30:08And, like, I just don't think people knew how to deal with it.
30:10Not a lot of people do, though, do they?
30:12No.
30:12I don't think I would, either.
30:15I don't want to get hurt.
30:17I don't want to fall in love with somebody and then they can't deal with how poorly I am.
30:23And I think that's why I've just kind of, like, pushed people away before.
30:27I feel like no-one's going to want me, yeah.
30:31I'm under, like, different neurologists and consultants and that, and, like...
30:34Yeah, it's a bit crazy.
30:36Yeah, hey, it's what makes you you.
30:39Yeah, that's true.
30:40That is very true.
30:53Here, hoping to collar a man tonight...
30:56Right, please.
30:57...is burlesque dancer Double D, a.k.a. Deborah.
31:03Double D, it's like a cheeky reference to Double D, but I'm not actually a Double D anymore, so...
31:25...I don't know.
31:30...I don't know.
31:36...I don't know.
31:38Look at your date when you're on, because you'll be sitting here.
31:42Enjoy. See you later.
31:44Thank you, Fred. Hello.
31:45Hi.
31:46Welcome. Firstly, can I get you a drink?
31:48Of course, yeah. I've been waiting all day for this drink.
31:50Can I have an April Spritz, please?
31:52An April Spritz?
31:53Coming up.
31:54I'm a 0-100 girl.
31:560-100, I don't fancy him at all, or 100. I'm there both feet.
32:02And how do you like your men to look?
32:03Um, normally tall, dark, handsome.
32:06Oh?
32:07I'm definitely a groupie. I just love men that are entertainers or singers. I love Adamant.
32:20I like a man to know his own style and his own taste, and not just be run-of-the
32:27-mill.
32:29Debra's Prince Charming is Lee, a professional singer hoping to turn his solo performance into a duet.
32:37Do you have any sort of wild stories from travelling the world or anything like that?
32:41I did turn up at one booking. I had my name on the poster, and it said one for the
32:47ladies,
32:48and it was about 100 nurses, and they thought I was a stripper.
32:55How are you?
32:57Hi, Fred.
32:57Nice to meet you. Very smart.
32:59Yeah, you too. I love your jacket.
33:01Yeah, really cool.
33:02Have you been on mini-dates before?
33:05Not very good ones.
33:07People think because you have a microphone and the career that I do,
33:10that you're really, really confident, but I'm very, very shy,
33:15and I never, ever really approach women.
33:18Your date has arrived. She's at the ball.
33:19Oh, nice one.
33:20Go, Whizley.
33:22Here we are. Enjoy your date.
33:24Hi.
33:24Hi, all right.
33:25What's your name?
33:26Debbie.
33:26Nice to meet you, Debbie.
33:27And you.
33:28Where are you from?
33:29Barnsley.
33:29Barnsley, from Lull.
33:30Have you been on holiday?
33:32No.
33:33I went on the sunbed last month.
33:36Oh, okay.
33:36You've got a nice coat.
33:37Yeah.
33:38What's that?
33:39April Spritz.
33:41I'll have one of them, please, Mellon.
33:42Of course.
33:43Barnsley, yeah.
33:44I've been up there a few times.
33:45I've been to Gorba Road.
33:47The working men's club?
33:49Yeah.
33:49Oh, that's where I go.
33:50Oh, is it?
33:51Yeah.
33:51I go to burlesque classes.
33:54Oh, what, you do burlesque?
33:56Yeah.
33:56Oh, good on you.
33:57Good for body confidence.
33:58It is?
33:59Yeah.
33:59What were you doing at Gorba then?
34:01Were you performing?
34:03Yeah.
34:03Not a stripper, though, like people think.
34:05No.
34:05Singer.
34:06What do you sing?
34:08My favourite is, like, Andrea Bocelli.
34:10All right.
34:11So, I like my classical.
34:12Put you anything from 50s to chart.
34:16I like your jacket, by the way.
34:17And your jeans.
34:18So, this is my son's.
34:19Is it?
34:20Yes, Fred.
34:21Are you going to go through to the table?
34:23Yes.
34:24Ready when you are, yeah?
34:24Yeah.
34:25Come with me.
34:28I'm all about travelling.
34:30Places that you like to go.
34:31I haven't been anywhere for a while.
34:34I want to go travelling, but I travel a lot with women.
34:36Yeah.
34:37But it's nice to go with someone.
34:38Yeah, it is.
34:39It makes a difference.
34:40I think that's one of the things I've missed.
34:42I've just been travelling.
34:43I've got a camper van, and I've just been France and Spain with a friend.
34:48Yeah.
34:49I don't like sitting on the beach.
34:51I'm not into that.
34:54I hide from the sun because I just burn.
34:56Oh.
34:57I love the sunshine.
35:00Yeah, Tracy's lovely.
35:02She's a very interesting person.
35:03See, the fact she's retrained to be a paramedic.
35:06That's a proper job.
35:07I mean, I saw bloody cleaning products for a living.
35:09She's out saving lives every day.
35:11Kind of puts things in perspective, doesn't it?
35:14Yeah, we won't make it fair.
35:15No, we won't.
35:16I'll arm wrestle you for it.
35:18Go on, man.
35:18Go on, man.
35:19I'm going to lose.
35:20Oh, thank you so much.
35:26Would you guys like to see each other again?
35:30Am I going first?
35:32Why not?
35:33Ladies first.
35:34It's the rules, isn't it?
35:35I think I had a really nice time, but I don't think we're actually at the right place for each
35:41other at this moment in time.
35:43Thank you for that.
35:44Yeah.
35:44Cheers.
35:45Cheers.
35:45Yeah.
35:47No, I don't disagree with you.
35:48I kind of think that, yeah, I completely understand that.
35:51And, yeah, my life is kind of in a strange place at the moment.
35:54I love that your coat is matching.
35:56You've got this whole pink thing.
35:57It's amazing.
35:58I'll tell you the funny facts about me.
36:00I used to be the mayor.
36:01Did you?
36:02Yeah.
36:02Of where?
36:03Wakefield.
36:03Wow.
36:04That's awesome.
36:06I could have got involved with royalty.
36:08Yeah.
36:09That's nuts.
36:11Oh, we got a little bit of bow tie fixing today.
36:15There we go.
36:16Thank you very much.
36:17Immaculate.
36:20I had some Malibu cooks last night to try and calm the nerves.
36:23Was you in the gutter?
36:25Yeah.
36:27I felt drunk.
36:28See, I don't drink at gigs.
36:31I never get nervous.
36:32Yeah.
36:33Yeah.
36:34Nerves.
36:37Here we go.
36:38Your sea bass.
36:40Your steak.
36:43Is that done?
36:44Can I take that?
36:44Yes, thank you.
36:47Well, that looks really nice.
36:51So, have you been married before, Debbie?
36:53Yeah.
36:53Yeah, for 28 years.
36:55Just once?
36:56Yeah.
36:57But, see, I've never been married.
36:58I've been engaged five times over the years.
37:01Five times.
37:02That's a lot of money on engagement ring.
37:04It is, when you don't get them back.
37:05Well.
37:06I look at past relationships and think, yeah, maybe if I'd done this and done that, not put
37:12myself and my career first and my work, I probably would have been still in some of them relationships
37:19now.
37:21I've got a lot of regrets about my past because I've missed a lot of my children growing up.
37:30My daughter, at the moment, is living with me Wednesday to Monday because she started working for my son.
37:36It's been really nice, actually, having her there.
37:40I've really missed her.
37:42She's amazing.
37:43They both are.
37:44I've been very lucky with my children.
37:48My son's just told me a couple of weeks ago he's going to have, they're having a baby.
37:53So he keeps calling me granddad.
37:56I'm in my 50s now and it's, you sort of look and you think, it's just nice to have that
38:00someone next to you.
38:01When my daughter first started going on holiday with her friends, I'd cry for nearly a week while she was
38:06awake.
38:07Yeah.
38:07Because we're so close, all of us.
38:10Yeah.
38:10We're so lovely together and when we're all together, we just all get on and have fun.
38:14Yeah.
38:15And make fun of each other.
38:17That's what my son's like.
38:18My son's very much like me.
38:19He's very witty, very sarcastic, loves wound-ups.
38:22I think I'm lucky my children have got good hearts.
38:25They're good people and that's all you can ask for.
38:27That's a blessing, isn't it?
38:33Hey, there is your gambit.
38:38I've got your potataz bravas.
38:40Amazing, thank you.
38:42And I have your Korean chicken.
38:47How is your day in history?
38:49I feel like my health's had a lot of, like...
38:52Impact on it.
38:53Yeah, because the last couple of people I've been with, it's only been a few months.
38:57How was yours?
38:58I've only ever had one serious relationship in my life.
39:00And that ended, like, about a year ago.
39:03Yeah.
39:04As a kid, you kind of think, oh, by the time I'm this age, I'll have a family, I'll have
39:08a house, I'll have a dog, a car.
39:11So I think turning 30, I would like to share the next half of my life with someone.
39:17My friends are pretty much settled down.
39:19We're misses and getting houses and stuff like that.
39:21To be fair, I'm the same, like, most of my friends are married, they've got kids, and I'm just like...
39:26Yeah, win your life.
39:29Yeah, I'm like, oh.
39:30Yeah.
39:30Having that best friend but partner relationship can't be it.
39:38Having someone to lean on, someone you can do everything with, you know, do anything to make the other person
39:43happy.
39:44What's, like, your normal type?
39:46So, you do look like your type.
39:51So, like, yeah, I like the tall, darling, handsome type.
39:55I like your beard, I like your hair, it's different, it's quirky.
39:58Oh, thank you.
39:59No, it's nice, obviously, because, like, being a barber, I know what is it.
40:02Yeah, yeah, I can't wait for them free trims.
40:05They're going to be brilliant.
40:06Every four days I want to feed.
40:08No, four deers.
40:09Every four days.
40:10No, five's the minimum.
40:11Yes, five is the minimum.
40:17Hello, Fred.
40:18So, um, my little finger tells me that you are a singer.
40:21Yes.
40:22So what are you saying, then?
40:23Let's go, let's put it on the show.
40:26What, I've got to sing?
40:27Well, you're a singer.
40:28Just a couple of verses.
40:30All right, let's go.
40:31All right, let's go.
40:35Oh, sole, oh, sole mio, stand afronte a te.
40:45Oh, sole, oh, sole mio, stand afronte a te.
41:13Oh, sole, oh, sole mio, stand afronte a te.
41:25I don't know if you've got the guts.
41:27I'm more worried about getting the dance right than the end bit.
41:31And you beat yourself up when you watch it back and you're thinking, I went wrong on that bit.
41:35And it was like, well, nobody knew because only you know what you're doing because it's a solo.
41:38Exactly.
41:40I'm really, um, not a confident person.
41:46When I was younger, I was bullied at school and I was bullied in my marriage a lot.
41:51Um, and I feel like I can't change who I am.
41:57When you've been married, as long as I was, it takes a while for the mist to clear and for
42:03you to realise who you are and what you actually want from life.
42:07A burlesque, it's more of a cabaret.
42:09So we have, like, a singer and we have all different things.
42:13I can't sing.
42:15Everybody can sing, Debbie.
42:16I can sing, it's not a good song.
42:18Everybody can sing.
42:19But what I do is I get on the karaoke, I wiggle a lot so it distracts them from the
42:24sound of my voice.
42:24Yeah, but that's what karaoke's about.
42:25Oh, right, doesn't it?
42:28Now, I'm happy in my life and I don't want to stop what I'm doing.
42:31I want somebody to bring something to my life.
42:34I would love to be swept off my feet.
42:37I'd like somebody that's really good fun.
42:43Are you cold?
42:45No, I just think it's nice.
42:46It's nice when you're in trouble.
42:48It's quite, uh, romantic, isn't it, really?
42:52Yeah.
42:53How's your gin?
42:55Lovely.
42:55You don't judge me, do you, if you're drinking pink gin?
42:58No.
42:58Or any gin?
42:59No.
43:01Yeah, it was lovely to be on a day with someone I was comfortable with and it flowed so easily.
43:06Like, it would have been a nightmare if I was with someone that, like, I was chatting me off and
43:11I just got nothing back.
43:12Would have been really difficult.
43:15Big spoon or small spoon?
43:17Small.
43:17I like big small spoons, man.
43:19How can you be small spoon, though, when you feel big?
43:21I don't know, I think there's something nice about being trade-old in bed, I don't know what it is.
43:24Yeah.
43:24It's nice.
43:25You never know.
43:28Would you like to see each other again?
43:32Do you want me first, aren't I?
43:34Oh, I don't mind.
43:37I've got folks.
43:38Yeah, I'd like to see you again, yeah.
43:43So, oh, I feel terrible.
43:45I'm so excited.
43:46I think you're really nice.
43:48It's all right.
43:48I think you are obviously attractive and maybe it was, like, the environment, but I just felt like I was
43:56more with, like, my friend in a way.
43:58Yeah, yeah, of course, yeah.
43:59I can see it.
44:00You're not cold in just a T-shirt?
44:03Uh, brave face, mate.
44:04Brave face.
44:05I'm absolutely freezing.
44:07I feel like the only reason I could put it down to you, because it's nothing to do with you,
44:11is that I'm just not ready.
44:14Oh, it's fine.
44:15You gave it a shot.
44:16It's all nice.
44:16He's really nice and I feel bad.
44:18Really?
44:19I'm just sorry it didn't, you know, work out, but isn't it really sweet, yeah?
44:23Get on, Seth.
44:23Yeah, you too.
44:24See you later.
44:25Bye.
44:30My mum and dad were so much in love for years from an early age.
44:35My friends would go, oh, I saw your mum and dad in Barnsley, they were holding hands and they used
44:38to always share a toasted fruit, tea, cake in the market.
44:41I mean, you see a lot of that round hole where they're walking hand in hand, it's lovely, but they're
44:45handcuffed.
44:46That's what it was like, innit?
44:48We had a lot in common, like, unbelievable amount in common.
44:53He's a really nice guy.
44:55And I'll get the bill.
44:56No, you won't.
44:57No, we're both equals.
44:59No, no, I'll get the bill.
45:04Will you guys see each other again?
45:08I think, yeah, definitely.
45:10Yeah, I think so, yeah.
45:14I'm getting this CC.
45:15You are a gen.
45:16That's a good quality to have a man.
45:18I just hope it works, it's not my card.
45:22We just hit it off straight away with conversation, didn't we, Debra?
45:26It's just, from the moment I sat with her at the bar, I think the only time we stopped was
45:31when Fred came over.
45:32We were saying you could probably come to one of my shows and sing, but you might have to sing
45:35a different song.
45:38Do you know any Elvis?
45:39Oh, that's what I got asked the other day, yeah.
45:42I said I look like Elvis.
45:43I've never had that in my life.