- 11 minutes ago
First Dates UK S25E06 (2026)
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TVTranscript
00:03Do you feel a bit rusty?
00:04Yes, very rusty.
00:06Definitely need a WD for our day.
00:09I need some help.
00:10It's hard out there.
00:12I am very single at the moment.
00:15I've run out of swipes.
00:16I've completed Tinder.
00:19In the heart of Britain's most romantic city.
00:22Hello.
00:23Fred and his team.
00:25This is Captain Fur Potato.
00:27Are matching hopeful singletons.
00:29We're getting married, Merlin.
00:31In a place where love is always on the menu.
00:35I've got a bit in your finger.
00:36You didn't go that far down the strip.
00:40These daters.
00:41He probably thinks I'm having a poo or something.
00:44Are searching.
00:46For the one.
00:49Would you chase me around the bedroom?
00:50Absolutely.
00:51Get your coat.
00:52I'm in.
00:53For some, stepping into the unknown.
00:57Can lead to surprising sparks.
01:00I work in the adult industry.
01:02Do you have an office for that?
01:03I have a dungeon.
01:05But finding a connection.
01:07A love story is about to begin.
01:10Shut up!
01:11Isn't always easy.
01:13Please tell me you actually last longer than three minutes.
01:19Help me!
01:21In the end.
01:22Hi.
01:23It comes down to one.
01:25Nice to see you here.
01:26Big.
01:27Question.
01:28Would you guys like to see each other again?
01:31This isn't a total crit, is it?
01:32This is the First Dates Restaurant.
01:44Working in a First Dates restaurant, you never know who's going to walk through the door.
01:48And that's exciting.
01:50You see people from all walks of life.
01:55I've been doing burlesque for three years.
01:58I have travelled the world as a singer.
02:01I'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 with 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 and like just like loads of pizzas.
02:51That's what makes you beautiful.
02:53How are you Aaron?
02:55Yeah, good. How are you?
02:56Lovely to meet you.
02:56Nice to meet you too.
02:58You excited about it?
02:59Yeah, really excited.
03:00Yeah? You been single long?
03:02I have to say about like six months.
03:04Just situationship, really.
03:06So things haven't really progressed past that point.
03:08Right. Why not?
03:11I think I'm colour blind, 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?
03:32Like 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?
03:53I do like masculine guys.
03:56I like someone who can be open with their emotions and just someone I can really get on with, you
04:00know?
04:00Yeah.
04:03Youth worker by day.
04:05Nightclub host by night.
04:08I may be alright.
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.
04:28Alright, handsome?
04:29Is it Saturday Night Fever?
04:31It is Saturday Night Fever, absolutely.
04:32How are you doing? Nice to meet you.
04:33Very well. You alright?
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.
04:46You 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 where there's a constant flow of men.
05:02But it's not the right environment to 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.
05:15Do you know your date as a wife?
05:16Yes.
05:18If you just go discreetly like that...
05:21I know what I've seen.
05:22You've seen it, yeah?
05:23Alright.
05:26This is about to be interesting, Fred. I'm not going to lie to you.
05:29It's one of my friends.
05:33This is going to be interesting, isn't it?
05:35It's going to be interesting.
05:37Oh, my God.
05:39I am!
05:40Victoria.
05:43Bye-bye!
05:44I thought it was you.
05:45How are you?
05:46I'm all right, thanks.
05:48You're all right?
05:49Yeah.
05:50This is so surreal.
05:51Honestly, I was so, like, nervous and then you just turned up.
05:56This is actually...
05:57This is crazy.
05:58This is actually crazy.
05:59Hello, guys.
06:00Hiya.
06:00You all right?
06:01Yeah, not bad.
06:01Not bad.
06:02How's you?
06:03Much more at ease now, I'm sitting here with a friend.
06:06You know each other?
06:07Oh, right.
06:07Okay, cool.
06:08Where from and how am I?
06:10Manchester.
06:11We run in kind of the same social circles, so...
06:13Yeah.
06:15You guys are very lucky.
06:17Because, you know, the hardest thing to establish in a relationship is trust.
06:20But you've already got that.
06:22Yeah.
06:23Yeah.
06:24All you have to inject is 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.
06:31To la table.
06:32Le table.
06:36Oh, thank you very much, Daisy.
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.
06:54Call me.
06:59Former Mayor Tracy wants someone special to share her favourite place in the world with.
07:06I am from a little town in West Yorkshire called Wakefield.
07:10A wonderful town.
07:12It's where I grew up.
07:13I've not lived anywhere else.
07:15So I loved it that much I became the mayor.
07:19Good afternoon, Fred.
07:20How are you?
07:21All the better for seeing you.
07:22Thank you so much.
07:23Are you in the mood for love?
07:25I am definitely in the mood.
07:26I'm wearing the colour of love.
07:27Shall I 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 a spicy margarita, please.
07:42A spicy margarita?
07:43Yes.
07:44Add a little spice to the day, I think.
07:46Yeah, exactly.
07:46That's what I mean to go on.
07:49What do you miss about being 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.
07:59Oh, wonderful.
07:59But I've only just become a paramedic.
08:01I was a technician before and worked my way up through the ranks.
08:04So I graduated last year from the university.
08:06Well, congratulations.
08:07You're 52.
08:08You're never too old to go back and learn.
08:10No, you're not.
08:11No.
08:11Brilliant.
08:11There you go.
08:12Tell me about you and dating then.
08:13Have you dated much?
08:14So, no, not much in the last three years.
08:16Wow.
08:17Yeah, so...
08:17Oh, this is a big day for you?
08:19This is a very big day for me.
08:20Tell me, what are you looking for?
08:21What do you like in a man?
08:23A 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 me looks.
08:31What if he's short?
08:32Well, well, we're all the same height lying down now.
08:37Ready to plunge into his date with Tracy.
08:41Toilet roll salesman Stuart is wiped out from his search for love.
08:46Now, scrunching it reduces your surface area, doesn't it?
08:49Whereas if you fold it, you've got a bigger surface area, haven't you?
08:54The average person in an office environment will use a toilet three times a day.
08:58And on average, they will use eight sheets of toilet paper per visit.
09:02But we don't want to talk about toilet paper on a first date.
09:05There's way more exciting things to talk about, isn't there, than that?
09:08Nice to meet you.
09:09And you.
09:09Love your shirt. You like pink?
09:11No, it's cherry blossom, Fred.
09:13Cherry blossom? No, I mean pink as a colour.
09:14Oh yeah, I like pink as a colour.
09:15Brilliant.
09:17How long have you been single?
09:1913 years, three months and 27 days.
09:22I think.
09:23Might be 28 days.
09:24I'm at a different point in my life now.
09:27Maybe it's time to re-evaluate my single bubble.
09:30I need someone to come along and try and burst it.
09:33Shall I take your jacket?
09:33Yes, please, no. Take that.
09:35It'd be nice to meet someone who's got a lust for life.
09:37Someone confident.
09:38Someone who's comfortable in their own world.
09:41Have a nice day.
09:42Cheers, thank you.
09:44That's an awesome shirt.
09:44And Stuart, thank you.
09:46Tracy.
09:47Nice to meet you.
09:48We're nearly matching Stuart.
09:49I know.
09:50You must have got the memo.
09:52I did.
09:53I need to put my glasses on.
09:54I can't see.
09:55Might not see him.
09:56Yeah.
09:57I can see them.
09:58What are you drinking?
09:59I'm on a spicy margarita.
10:01I thought I might as well start.
10:02This is Stuart.
10:03He got the memo about matching.
10:04I was going to say.
10:05Look at this.
10:07Joyous.
10:08Look at that shirt.
10:08That's awesome.
10:09What do you do for a living then?
10:11So I sell cleaning products for a living.
10:15All right.
10:16Exciting stuff.
10:17So I spend most of my life in the toilet talking to people about how to use toilet roll.
10:20Which is good fun.
10:21It's good.
10:22It's recession proof.
10:23Yeah.
10:23Yeah.
10:23Everybody needs it.
10:24It's never going to go out of fashion is it?
10:26Not at all.
10:28Hi friends.
10:29Yes.
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 but...
10:40Yeah.
10:40Which is pretty much how everyone knows me to be fair.
10:42What is your actual name then?
10:43Because obviously I...
10:44Well unless it is Victoria.
10:45No, no, no.
10:46I'm Nathan.
10:47A lot of people only know me as Vic or Victoria and she's amazing.
10:53And I could walk down the street as Vic and 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.
11:05I...
11:05I would be ghosted so many times when they find out I've done drag.
11:08Or do I do drag.
11:09That's the gay community.
11:10It's brutal.
11:11I was like wow like never talked deeply like this before.
11:15No.
11:16I've been ghosted so many times.
11:19I think dating is difficult sometimes because I can't always fully be myself.
11:23I often feel like I'm showing a different version of me even though they're both me.
11:28I mean...
11:34For me like when I meet someone that's the hardest thing because it's like well when do I tell someone?
11:40Absolutely.
11:43Has your hair ever caused you problems with dates?
11:46I was getting intimate with a guy and you know they put their hand on my head and pulled and
11:52the thing came off.
11:54And they just screamed.
11:55I screamed and I was like oh my god this 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 that is relevant because at that point losing my hair, being gay and
12:15stuff 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 but I'd also just wish not to be gay.
12:25I thought my word was going to crumble but instead I did a TikTok video, posted it and actually I
12:30got so many messages and then I was like okay cool so 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 but I can control how I respond to their behaviours.
12:44I am worthy of love, I deserve that. If you don't think that, fine, go and work on yourself.
12:49It's about war paint and armour.
12:51Yeah.
12:52The hair system and drag are the armour to who we are underneath but who we are underneath doesn't change.
12:59We're still that same person with the same morals and the same values.
13:02I don't think we would have ever spoke like this before.
13:06It's just really nice to, you know, hear 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, I'm very intimidating, I hold myself uptight and I'm almost very unapproachable.
13:18Almost?
13:26Certain types of toilet paper, the really big rolls, you can pull it out really slowly and they put it
13:31in the toilet
13:32so it gets wet and then they flush the toilet and it'll spin the whole toilet paper off down the
13:36toilet.
13:39You know, Cece, some of our older daters today, it feels as if they are really out of practice.
13:45They haven't been dating for so long and they're going back on the horse and they just have no idea
13:51how to do it.
13:51About what to do.
13:52I remember the toilet rolls at school that were like the...
13:55Tracing paper.
13:56Yeah.
13:57I mean, what were we thinking of?
14:00Cost.
14:03Hi Gorge.
14:04Hello.
14:04How are you alright?
14:05Hello, how are we doing?
14:06Fabulous.
14:07Did I hear that you two might know each other?
14:10Yeah, so we are in the same friendship group, believe it or not, but like, I wouldn't say like, close
14:14friends, you know?
14:15So we've been in the rooms together at parties, we've pre-drunk together, we've been to clubs together, we've, you
14:21know, we've done it.
14:21Yeah.
14:22So we know each other socially.
14:24Mm-hmm.
14:25But romantically, you've never explored anything even before.
14:30No.
14:31No, but I think obviously, I don't know how you feel about this, but being on this date, you know,
14:34I'm very much open to getting to know you.
14:37Absolutely.
14:37Like...
14:45Matty, I'm not even joking, mate.
14:47I'm on a date with Victoria.
14:51Like...
14:51What?
14:52Matty!
14:55Where are you off to?
14:57I'm going to the cellar.
14:57Go to the basement.
14:59Oh, here we go.
15:01Take the lift.
15:02This was not on the bingo card.
15:03Of all the things that I thought might happen, like, this was not...
15:09Anyway, so I'm just giving you a quick update, and...
15:12Yeah.
15:13I'll let you know how it goes.
15:15This is so wild!
15:16Ooh!
15:16Sport.
15:17Wow!
15:18Thank you very much, though.
15:20This looks awesome.
15:20I'll give you another four.
15:22Lovely job, thank you.
15:23More than welcome.
15:24So, have you always lived in Wakefield?
15:26Yes.
15:27And my family still live in Wakefield, so my mum still lives...
15:29My mum and dad are still at the same house that they are.
15:31Yeah.
15:31My kids live close by, so it's just handy.
15:34Oh, that's good.
15:35My daughter was a mental health nurse.
15:37Wow.
15:38So, my eldest is a paramedic, and 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, or has everyone kind of just sort of migrated to that?
15:51Well...
15:52It's a funny story.
15:53I'm going to tell you about it.
15:56My oldest son, we were 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.
16:05Knew that I couldn't look after him at 15.
16:08My mum and dad didn't have much money.
16:11It 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.
16:25And when the law changed, and you were able to find your adopted children through an intermediary,
16:29I paid to find them.
16:31And we met, and everything just clicked into place, and 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 at the same ambulance station
16:45that he was working at, and 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,
16:54it's the fact that, you know, you can't give them everything they 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.
17:22I'm trying to be a better loser, OK?
17:24That's OK.
17:27Hi.
17:28We're ready.
17:3327-year-old Verity is a barber who's looking for a man whose love won't fade.
17:40I get really mixed reactions from lads when I tell them I'm a barber.
17:44But, the weirdest chat-up line is just gotta be like, when are you cutting my hair then?
17:51And I'm like, never now.
17:53You've just ruined it.
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.
18:02Are you?
18:02Yeah.
18:03Do you meet anybody in the salon?
18:05No, never.
18:06My dating life at the moment is literally non-existent.
18:10I 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.
18:24Aww.
18:24Yeah, so it's gonna be fun.
18:25And how do you like your guys to look?
18:27I like a, like, tall dog and handsome.
18:30Yeah, and I like a trendy guy as well.
18:32Just, like, a happy, easy-going person.
18:35Yeah, happy, happy.
18:36I want someone that's, like, sweet and gentle with me
18:39and confident, not cocky.
18:41I love, like, dark hair.
18:44Like, a nice, neat beard.
18:46I like them tall.
18:49Verity's date is six-foot-five,
18:52Mancunian coach driver, Liam.
18:55Have you ever been to London?
18:56Nope.
18:56This is the furthest you've ever been.
18:58Yeah, furthest south, yeah.
18:59Cos I'm from Manchester, like, everything's there.
19:01I only go north, so I never come down.
19:04As far as I ain't got a nosebleed coming this far.
19:07But this is how far you'll travel for love.
19:09Yeah, exactly, yeah.
19:10You can only get one shot at a door.
19:12You can go as far as you can go.
19:13Nice to see you.
19:14Nice to see you.
19:15Nice to see you.
19:15Love your 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.
19:26Just happy.
19:27Cheers.
19:27Enjoy. Good luck.
19:29Hi, you all right?
19:31Hi, are you all right?
19:32Sorry, I didn't realise it was you coming over.
19:34You've got a strong accent.
19:35I know.
19:36So have you?
19:36How about?
19:37Like, Leeds?
19:38Manchester.
19:39Oh, really sorry, I've gone too far.
19:41Hey, sir.
19:42How 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.
19:49Do you like wine?
19:50Not really, no.
19:51It doesn't taste nice.
19:53Do you not 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?
19:59Obviously not, like, every minute of every day, but, like, yeah.
20:02No, I think gin.
20:03What's your name, sorry?
20:04Liam.
20:05Liam and Verity.
20:06Verity?
20:07Yeah.
20:07Lovely name.
20:08Yeah.
20:09Lovely.
20:11What do you think of Bath?
20:13It's nice.
20:13This is the furthest south I've ever been.
20:15Really?
20:15Have you been to, like, London, though?
20:17No.
20:17No big London?
20:18No big London.
20:19I mean, I'd like to go.
20:21Maybe you could tell me.
20:23Maybe.
20:26I remember the first time I met you.
20:29Oh, now you're going to tell me.
20:30I would say, like, a coconut.
20:32Because, like, obviously, really hard shell, like...
20:36I've never been compared to a coconut.
20:38But I see your point.
20:40Yeah.
20:41Ridiculously hard exterior.
20:43And 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...
20:54Yeah, because, um...
20:56I 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
21:14relationship with this boy who was just not a very nice person.
21:21He 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.
21:39And I genuinely can say that I don't think I've ever been in love.
21:42How hard is that?
21:43I think it...
21:44It might seem hard.
21:46But also, you said yourself, you know, that you find it really hard to be vulnerable.
21:50Then maybe you just haven't been vulnerable of the right person.
21:53Yeah.
21:54Maybe that.
21:55Then I am a Taurus, so...
21:57Mmm!
21:58So, are things do match, actually?
21:59Do they?
22:00Yeah.
22:01I'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?
22:08So, 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.
22:19Well, I hate to say it, but I think your card read this day perfectly.
22:23Cos that sounds pretty accurate.
22:31So, what sort of food do you like?
22:33Erm, I like Mexican, Indian, Italian, Chinese.
22:40Yeah, pretty much everything, then.
22:41Yeah, yeah.
22:42That would be better if asking, then, what don't you like?
22:44Custard.
22:46You don't like custard?
22:47No.
22:47Why not?
22:48I'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.
22:55So, I once bit into a doughnut that had custard in it and burst into tears.
23:00Oh, wow.
23:01Yes.
23:02I do love a custard doughnut.
23:06And what made you decide to pick this, then?
23:09Oh, there's a number of reasons.
23:10So, three years ago, I got diagnosed with a brain tumour.
23:14Wow.
23:15Because of where it was, it had paralysed me down the left-hand side.
23:17So, I went in January 23 for my first stop, and they thought it had all been quite successful.
23:25And then, in May of 23, they started talking to me about chemo and radiotherapy, which scares the bejesus out
23:31of me.
23:33And when they started talking about radio and chemo, they started talking about two years of life.
23:37So, I was like, oh, shit.
23:40So, that's prompted my move back to Leeds.
23:42Yeah.
23:42My parents are close to them, so has my brother.
23:44Right.
23:45So, yeah, so when I got to Leeds, they were brilliant, because they went, no, what we'll do is, we
23:48don'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.
23:52OK.
23:52So, they did that in Jan 24.
23:54Yeah.
23:55And now they're talking about ten years of life.
23:57Well, sorry, ten 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.
24:06Before, it's kind of, you know, it's like you used to think about your retirement and getting your pension right
24:09and 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.
24:15Absolutely.
24:16Definitely a life-changing moment.
24:19Sorry, I didn't ask how old are you?
24:22Oh, I'm not allowed to answer that.
24:23Yeah.
24:24I'm nearly 50.
24:25Oh, wow.
24:25I have to keep reminding myself that.
24:27What are you going to do for your 50?
24:29Dunno, yeah.
24:30I haven't decided.
24:3350, it's a big thing, you need to do something spectacular.
24:37Yeah, it is.
24:38You're made it to 50.
24:39Yeah.
24:39Woo!
24:39You're made it to 50.
24:43I can't believe you're 6'5", I'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, you know?
24:49I know, yeah.
24:50You actually are.
24:51Yeah, a whole Subway sandwich.
24:53You actually are.
24:54That is crazy.
24:59As a queer person, Manchester has everything I've wanted.
25:05Mm-hmm.
25:07Well, it's interesting you say that as well, because I feel like me and you are a little
25:10bit on the opposite end of the spectrum, not sexuality-wise, but I think for me, I've
25:15always struggled to have, like, gay friends, just because I feel like the community can
25:21be quite difficult, so, and also, like, quite judgmental, and also then you've got the side
25:26of, like, trying to make a relationship work in Manchester's gay scene.
25:29Yeah, there's a lot of promiscuity on the scene.
25:32Hook-up culture...
25:33Yeah.
25:34..is rife.
25:36And it's great for the there and thens.
25:42You 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.
25:55Hi.
25:55Hi.
25:57Yes, please.
25:58Could we get the check, please?
25:59Absolutely, we'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.
26:10For me, no.
26:13This 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.
26:24Can we just grab the house?
26:26Spin it.
26:26Yeah?
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
26:32outside 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.
26:40Yes.
26:41It's 100% on you, mine'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.
26:55You can ever say never.
26:56If I'm six pounds deep, I might hook up with you when I'm really,
27:00really drunk.
27:00Right, so when you can't see almost, you...
27:04Right, 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.
27:12But what a great story to take back to our friends in Manchester.
27:14I think we actually need to go for a drink.
27:16We do. There is a gay bar here. There's one.
27:18I've already Googled it and found it.
27:19Love it.
27:20Yeah.
27:20So should we go out and get six pints in this?
27:26Next question.
27:33I think love is being able to be silent together and that that's okay.
27:38That you are both enough for each other.
27:42So that therefore you don't have to fill the space with...
27:45Don't talk and words.
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?
28:00Yeah, 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, like having some drinks,
28:09like food.
28:10I like doing fun stuff as well, you know, like going bowling and like
28:13crazy golf and stuff like that.
28:15I do like this.
28:16I like having to sit down and drinking food and trying new foods as well.
28:20I quite like that.
28:21Yeah.
28:21Let's try these prawns, haven't I?
28:23I've had these before.
28:24What 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.
28:30Oh, it's so nice.
28:34Cheers, 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.
28:47Scravy.
28:48No.
28:49I'm bad with accents, though.
28:50No, you're right, like, with the accent, like, it's an
28:52north-east 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 used to 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.
29:23Where did you come from?
29:23Yeah, so I have something called foreign accent syndrome.
29:26Right.
29:26October 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
29:47nervous system 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
29:55day, I can't hear properly.
29:56It's really, like, affected my life massively.
29:59And then end up with, like, a different accent, so...
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?
30:12I don't think I would, either.
30:15I don't want to get hurt.
30:16I 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 who were here before.
30:28I feel like no one's going to want me, yeah.
30:31Erm, I'm under, like, different neurologists and consultants and that and, like...
30:35Yeah, so...
30:35It's a bit crazy.
30:37Yeah, that's...
30:38Hey, it's what makes you.
30:39Yeah, that's true.
30:40That is very true.
30:53Here, hoping to collar a man tonight, 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...
31:11Yeah.
31:11Hello.
31:12How are you?
31:13I'm good, thank you.
31:15You're looking great.
31:16Have you been on many dates recently?
31:18No.
31:19No?
31:19Not for a long, long time.
31:21I've been single for six years.
31:23If I've been in town with my friend, I could go in pubs and probably get three different
31:28men's numbers and then message them and then no reply because half of them are married.
31:33Well, look, you're in the right place though.
31:35I know.
31:36You're the first to arrive.
31:37Good.
31:37You can have a good look at your date when you're on.
31:40Okay, yeah.
31:40Because you'll be sitting here.
31:43Enjoy.
31:43See you later.
31:44Thank you, Fred.
31:45Hello.
31:45Hi.
31:46Welcome.
31:46Firstly, can I get you a drink?
31:47Of course, yeah.
31:48I've been waiting all day for this drink.
31:50Can I have an Aperol Spritz, please?
31:52An Aperol Spritz.
31:53Coming up.
31:55I'm a naught to a hundred girl.
31:57Naught, I don't fancy them at all, or a hundred.
32:00I'm there both feet.
32:02And how do you like your men to look?
32:03Um, normally tall, dark, handsome.
32:06Oh.
32:08I'm definitely a groupie.
32:10I just love men that entertainers or singers.
32:14I love Adamant.
32:20I like a man to know his own style and his own taste.
32:25And not just be run of the mill.
32:29Debra's Prince Charming is Lee.
32:31A professional singer hoping to turn his solo performance
32:35into a duet.
32:37Do you have any sort of wild stories from travelling the world
32:40or anything like that?
32:41I did turn up at one booking.
32:43I had my name on the poster.
32:46And it said one for the ladies.
32:48And it was about a hundred nurses.
32:51And they thought I was a stripper.
32:56How are you?
32:57Hi, Fred.
32:58Nice to meet you.
32:58Very smart.
32:59Yeah, you too.
32:59I love your jacket.
33:01Yeah, really cool.
33:03Have 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.
33:13But I'm very, very shy and I never ever really approach women.
33:17Your date has arrived.
33:19She's at the bar.
33:20Oh, nice one.
33:20Go with me.
33:22Here we are.
33:23Enjoy 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 you from?
33:29Barnsley.
33:29Barnsley.
33:30From what?
33:31Have you been on holiday?
33:32No.
33:34I went on the sunbed last month.
33:36Oh, okay.
33:36You've got a nice coat.
33:38Yeah.
33:38What's that?
33:40April Spritz.
33:41I'll have one of them, please, Mellon.
33:43Sure.
33:44Barnsley, yeah.
33:44I've been up there a few times.
33:45I've been to Gorba Road.
33:48The working men's club?
33:49Yeah.
33:49Oh, that's where I go.
33:51Oh, is it?
33:51Yeah.
33:52I 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.
34:00What were you doing at Gorba, then?
34:01Were you performing?
34:03Yeah.
34:03Not a stripper, though, like people think.
34:05No.
34:06Singer.
34:06What do you sing?
34:08My favourite is, like, Andrea Bocelli.
34:10Oh, right.
34:11So, I like my classical.
34:12But, yeah, 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.
34:21How are you doing?
34:22Are you ready to go through to the table?
34:23Yeah.
34:24Yes, ready when you are, yeah.
34:25Yeah, come with me.
34:28I'm all about travelling.
34:30I love travelling.
34:30A place where you like to go.
34:31I love travelling.
34:32I haven't been anywhere for a while.
34:34I want to go travelling, but I travel a lot with work.
34:36Yeah.
34:37But it's nice to go with someone.
34:39Yeah, 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, so...
34:56Oh.
34:57Yeah.
34:57I love the sunshine.
35:00Yeah, Tracy's lovely.
35:02She's a very interesting person.
35:04See, the fact she's retrained to be a paramedic, that'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.
35:17I'll arm wrestle you for it.
35:18Go on, man.
35:18Go on, then.
35:19I'm gonna lose.
35:21Oh, thank you so much.
35:27Would you guys like to see each other again?
35:30Am I going first?
35:32Why not?
35:33Ladies first.
35:34Obviously.
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
35:40for each other at this moment in time.
35:43Thank you for that.
35:44Yep.
35:45Cheers.
35:47No, I don't disagree with you.
35:49I kind of think that, yeah, I completely understand that.
35:51And, yeah, my life is kind of in a strange place at the moment.
35:55I love that your coat is matching.
35:56This whole pink thing is amazing.
35:58I'll tell you a funny fact about me.
36:00I used to be the mayor.
36:01Did you?
36:02Yeah.
36:02Of where?
36:03Wakefield.
36:04Wow.
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.
36:15Thank you, thank you.
36:15There we go.
36:16Thank you very much.
36:20I had some Malibu and Cokes 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.
36:33Yeah.
36:33Yeah.
36:34Nerves.
36:37Here we go.
36:38Your sea bath.
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, 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 rings.
37:04It is when you don't get them back.
37:05Wow.
37:06I look at past relationships and think, yeah, maybe if I had done this and done that, not
37:12put myself and my career first and my work, I probably would have been still in some of
37:18them relationships now.
37:22I'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
37:36for my son.
37:37It's been really nice, actually, having her there.
37:40I've really missed her.
37:42She's amazing.
37:43They both are.
37:45I'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 you sort of look and you think, it's just nice to have that someone
38:01next to you.
38:02When my daughter first started going on holiday with her friends, I'd cry for nearly a week
38:06while she was away.
38:07Yeah.
38:08Because 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.
38:15Yeah.
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.
38:25Yeah.
38:25They're good people.
38:26And that's all you can ask for.
38:27That's a blessing, isn't it?
38:33Hey, there is your gambas.
38:38I've got your potatoes bravas.
38:41Amazing, 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.
38:53Because the last couple of people I've been with, it's only been like a few months.
38:57How was yours?
38:58I've only ever had like one serious relationship in my life.
39:01And that ended 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
39:09a 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 with Misses and getting houses and stuff like that.
39:21To be fair, I'm the same.
39:22Like most of my friends are married, they've got kids and I'm just like...
39:27Win your life.
39:28Yeah, I'm like aww.
39:30Yeah.
39:31Having 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 me type.
39:51So, like, yeah, I like the tall, darling, handsome type.
39:55I like your beard, I like your hair.
39:57It's different, it's quirky.
39:58Oh, thank you.
39:59No, it's nice, obviously, cos, like, being a barber, I notice it.
40:02Yeah, yeah.
40:03I can't wait for them free trims.
40:05They're going to be brilliant.
40:06Every four days I want to fade.
40:07Yeah.
40:09Four dears?
40:09Every four days.
40:10Nor fives the minimum.
40:12Yes.
40:13Five is the minimum.
40:17Hello, Fred.
40:18So, um, my little finger tells me that you are a singer.
40:22Yes.
40:22So, what are you saying then?
40:24Let's go, let's put it on the show.
40:26What, I've got to sing?
40:28Well, you're a singer.
40:29Just a couple of verses.
40:30All right, let's go.
40:59Two.
41:00Yeah
41:07Wow, that was amazing
41:10Fabulous, thank you
41:14That was brave honestly and physically shit
41:18Total respected Debbie for
41:21Burlesque, I just love dancing
41:23Most people are like wow. I don't know how you got the books. I'm more worried about getting the dance
41:29right
41:29Yeah, the end bit and you beat yourself up when you watch it back and you're thinking I went wrong
41:34on that bit
41:35And it was like well nobody knew because only you know what you're doing. Exactly. I'm really
41:42Not a confident person
41:46When I was younger I was bullied at school and I'm and I was bullied in my marriage a lot
41:52And I feel like I can't change who I am
41:58When you've been married as long as I was it takes a while for the mist to clear and for
42:03you to realize who you are and
42:04What you actually want from life?
42:07The burlesque it's more of a cabaret so we have like a singer and we have all different things I
42:13can't sing
42:15Everybody can sing Debbie. I can sing it's not a good song. Everybody can sing. What I do is I
42:21get the karaoke
42:21I wiggle a lot, so it distracts them from the sound of my voice. Yeah, but that's what carry up
42:25is about
42:28Now I'm happy in my life, and I don't want to stop what I'm doing. I want somebody to bring
42:32something to my life
42:34I would love to be swept off my feet. I'd like somebody that's really good fun
42:43Are you cold? No, I just think it's nice. I don't want you to enjoy. It's quite romantic, isn't it,
42:51really?
42:52Yeah
42:54How's your gin? Lovely. You don't judge me, do you, if you're drinking pink gin? No. Or any gin? No
43:01Yeah, it was lovely spaghetti with someone I was comfortable with and it floored so easily that like
43:07It would have been a nightmare if I was with someone that like I was chatting me off and I
43:11just got nothing back
43:12Would have been really difficult
43:15Big spoon or small spoon?
43:17Small? I like big small spoon.
43:19Are you? How can you be small spoon though?
43:21I don't know. I think there's something nice about being tradeled in bed. I don't know what it is. Yeah
43:24It's nice
43:25You never know
43:28Oh
43:29Would you like to see each other again?
43:32Do you want me first, don't I?
43:35Oh, I don't mind
43:36Yeah, I've got vibes
43:38Yeah, I'd like to see you again, yeah
43:42So...
43:44Oh, I feel terrible, that's what I'm saying
43:46I think you're really nice
43:48It's alright
43:48I think you are obviously attractive and
43:53Maybe it was like the environment but I just felt like I was more with like my friend in a
43:58way
43:58Yeah, of course, yeah
43:58I can see it
44:00You're not cold in just a t-shirt?
44:03Er, brave face mate
44:04Brave face
44:04I'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
44:12Is that I'm just not, I'm just not ready
44:14It's fine you gave it a shot
44:15It's all nice
44:16He's really nice and I feel bad
44:18No
44:19I'm just sorry it didn't work out but there's nobody to meet, yeah?
44:23Sorry, get 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
44:34My friends would go, oh I saw your mum and dad in Barnsley
44:37They were holding hands and they used to 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
44:44It's lovely but they're handcuffed
44:46That's what it was like innit?
44:49We had a lot in common, like unbelievable amount in common
44:53He's really nice guy
44:55And I'll get the bill
44:56No you won't
44:57No you won't
44:58No, 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 gent, that's a good quality to have a man
45:18I just hope it works, it's not my card
45:21Stop it
45:22We just hit it off straight away with conversation, didn't we Deb?
45:26Yeah
45:26It just, from the moment I sat with her at the bar
45:29I think the only time we stopped was when Fred came over
45:32We were saying you could probably come to one of my shows and sing
45:35but you might have to sing a different song
45:38Do you know any Elvis?
45:39Oh, that's what I got asked the other day, yeah
45:42They said I look like Elvis, I've never had that in my life
45:44Yeah
45:45Thank you
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