First Dates: Five lessons we've learned from Series 3

Never ditch your date, don’t get drunk, and avoid wearing a turtleneck
First Dates: Jodie the Geordie postie
Ben Travis28 April 2015

Three series in, the novelty of Channel 4’s brilliantly excruciating First Dates hasn’t worn off yet. Following a bunch of singletons as they go on a first date with a fellow lonely heart, Series 3 has yet again shown that the chances of sparks flying is massively outweighed by the likelihood that things will all go terribly wrong.

How formal do you go? What counts as inappropriate conversation? How much do you dare reveal about your exes? The answers to these questions and more have all been learned the hard way by the brave souls who appeared on the latest run of episodes. Here are some lessons we can take away from First Dates Series 3.

1) If your date is enraged by your turtleneck, they’re probably not ‘The One’ – Sav and Kat, Episode 1

Sometimes a bit of gentle ribbing can be a great way to flirt with your date, as long as it’s a) definitely a joke, and b) everyone’s definitely in on it. Poor Sav was, well, savaged by his date Kat for deciding to wear a turtleneck. Not only that, but he specifically bought one for the date. Don’t worry Sav, we kind of liked it – and with Daniel Craig rocking a turtleneck in the latest Spectre poster, you’re bang on trend.

2) It’s hard to escape your past – Jayden and Isabel, Episode 2

On a blind date, you have a chance to totally re-invent yourself – it’s a blank slate, where you can erase your dodgy past and not be judged on your mistakes. Unless, that is, your date happens to know a friend of yours, and they instantly realise that you have a reputation as a bit of a womaniser, as happened to poor Jayden mid-way through his date with Isabel. Unable to escape his past, Jayden’s date was like a slightly less tragic version of The Great Gatsby.

3) Don’t turn up absolutely wasted – Anna, Episode 6

Dutch courage can be a helpful way for both parties to ease into a date. With alcohol comes daft conversation, open-mindedness, and the possibility of more drinks after the meal is finished. However, if you’ve got a considerable head-start on your date, you may end up deciding to sack off dinner altogether, and suddenly start dancing to the house music playing only in your mind while your bemused date can only look on in horror. Anna, you were the hero of the series, even if you were a nightmare date.

4) Getting stood up absolutely sucks – Mula, Episode 6

Don’t ditch your date. Unless you have a really, really good excuse and are able to let them know far in advance, it’s not cool to stand up your prospective partner. After turning up at the restaurant, poor Mula waited, and waited, and waited until one of the waitresses came and found her in the toilet to break the news that her guy had chickened out and wouldn’t be coming.

5) There's always a better date around the corner – Jodie and Louise, Episode 7

The most heartbreaking moment of Series 3 came when adorable Geordie postie Jodie (try saying that three times over) got on like a house on fire with her date Laura. Alas, at the crucial post-date interview, Laura revealed that she felt more of a friend vibe, leaving the ever-positive Jodie looking visibly gutted. Thank god she returned the week after for a date with the stunning Louise – not only did she perfectly match Jodie’s ideal combination of Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Katy Perry in the looks department, she was more than a match for Jodie’s northern charms, and the pair continued to see each other after the show. Just remember: for every disappointment, there’s a better opportunity around the corner.

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