First Dates may seem like your typical easy-watching fodder, but it’s anything but. In fact, the show has made a point of opening our eyes to some seriously important life lessons of late.

Raymon – the show’s oldest ever participant at 90 – taught us about the loneliness of old age, and how important it is to reach out to the elderly in our families and communities. Bonnie, through sharing her own experiences on the show, showed us that domestic abuse can happen to absolutely anybody. And alopecia sufferer Eve gave us a crash-course in self-confidence and inner beauty.

Now Alan, similarly, has taken viewers on an emotional rollercoaster.

All 4, Channel 4’s on-demand service, has shared a clip of the widower encouraging everybody to grasp life with both hands and live it to its absolute fullest – and his story has resonated so strongly with viewers that the footage has now gone viral on Facebook.

The important reason this First Dates clip is racking up millions of views