Channel 4 has announced details of a brand new First Dates spin-off, which will really live up to its name by having teenagers on the show for the first time.
First Dates: Teens will see hopefuls between the ages of 16 and 19 dining out at one of the dating show’s new locations in Manchester, on what’s been billed as their “first, first dates”.
A press release announcing the new series said it will give its young stars the opportunity to “put their phones in their pocket, escape from the pressures of social media and talk face-to-face with a potential match”.
Channel 4 has also insisted that all of the dates featured on the show will have been “conducted in compliance with strict Covid-19 filming protocols and the most up to date government guidelines”.
First Dates’ resident maitre d’ Fred Sirieix will, of course, also be back for the teen spin-off, which will air on E4 in 2021.
“We’re very excited to be opening the doors of our brand-new restaurant in Manchester to a clientele we’ve not served before – teens!” Fred explained. “We’ll be creating a warm and welcoming space for them to meet new people and hopefully make a connection.
“Most importantly, we will be looking after them like our own and will provide a space where they can just be themselves without any distractions from the outside world, or their phones! It’s going to be so much fun and I can’t wait to get started!”
First Dates first burst onto our screens in 2013, and has since ran for a total of 15 series, as well as Valentine’s, Christmas and celebrity specials.
The show also spawned the spin-off First Dates Hotel, which saw singletons meeting for the first time at a fancy hotel restaurant, and being given the chance to check-in for the night.