Few TV shows on mainstream TV provide the genuine warm and fuzzies like First Dates.

This reality dating show is now my go to for feel good vibes. They have hit on a formula that solves the problems of daters today, consigned to ineffective dating apps having lost a Friday night dating culture where you could guarantee a hook up down the local boozer or night club; now long gone.

The production company that makes First Dates for Channel 4, Twenty Twenty is a well deserved multi-award-winning company known for creating the hit dating series also producing First Dates Hotel (where we first met Francesca as Italian quirky hotel manager) which takes the concept of dating a step further to a holiday romance where daters check into a boutique hotel in Italy and can experience spending a bit more time together if the blind dinner date goes well. It’s a really fun format too and compulsive viewing in our house.

I don’t think the show I just watched was even from the new series as the restaurant setting was different. It wasn’t a restaurant I actually recognised but the daters featured left me with those lovely warm feelings, and hopefulness for the daters brave enough to put their past dating failures and personal insecurities on the line, out their for the world to see in the hope of finding a match and possibly Love.

This particular episode featured a 35 year old driving instructor with Asperbergers syndrome whose parents had a home in Florida, a car enthusiast and back to the future movie franchise fan who was paired with a curvy 29 year old girl who had never had a boyfriend. The chat flowed freely, they both said yes to another date and ended up taking a trip to Florida together. So fantastic. We also met a young magician with a “Dad body” who had been teased at school but had overcome confidence issues to perform magic for celebrities, he was matched with a young make up artist who also wrote music, the daughter of a musician who lived in Los Angeles who too had issues with confidence, so much so she brought a suitcase full of her make up with her on the date for comfort and security.

It was entirely heart warming to hear both young people talk about past experiences and yep Fred and team had another successful match.

I have no idea how many dates the crew actually capture to ensure ten packed episodes in a series with each episode usually featuring three or sometimes four couples experiencing their “First Dates”.

The third couple featured in this particular episode were a bit older. The nice thing about the show is it doesn’t just feature young people, but all kinds of people, young, old, gay, straight, transgender, people with disabilities, you name it the First Dates restaurant does not discriminate when it comes to love. The lady mid forties, the chap early fifties. And whilst there wasn’t an attraction on her part, she did say very wittily when asked what her usual type was by her date “clearly the wrong type”, they did get along very well, had a good time and planned to see each other again as mates. She spoke very highly of the gentleman in question she just didn’t fancy him.

At the end of the each episode you the viewer do get an update as to whether successful daters followed through or not and when the matches don’t spark and flames don’t a light there’s always the chance Fred and his team will have a participant back for another match.

It’s the most authentic genuine (not manufactured) reality show on TV. And very easy to binge watch if you’ve not checked it out before.

I’d recommend starting with First Dates Hotel which brings holiday romance vibes in an idyllic Italian hideaway, luxury boutique hotel before settling down and getting your teeth into the back catalogue of First Dates.