5. Not everyone on the show is looking for love

I may be a romantic, but as a young woman, I know how hard it can be to not buy into the narrative that having a romantic relationship is the defining goal of your life. I entered the show ready to state that I don’t think that being single is a disease or anything to be ashamed of – just like the vast majority of the people I met on the show. If I met someone nice, great – but if I didn’t, I was going to go and dance the rest of the night away with my mates.

Although the programme is fantastic in the way that it can bring people together who find it difficult to meet potential partners – their ability to pair elderly couples is frankly excellent – it’s also a lot of lovelorn adrenaline junkies grouped together willing to try out something a little bit different. While I resented being asked the question “Why are you single?”, appearing on First Dates did hammer home one truth – appearing on national television to go on a date was an experience that was about myself.

Images: Channel 4 / Radio Times

The 5 most surprising things I learnt from appearing on First Dates