Ellie, 25 years old
Single for two years, no children.
Dating someone from the past?
My last relationship lasted two years and ended a couple of years ago. I’ve been on dating apps, but I’ve had some really terrible dates.
Pre-date jitters?
Yes, and his train was delayed too, so I was nervous he wouldn’t show up. I put on a red summer dress with heels and felt lovely.
Ellie (pictured) is a 25-year-old mental health therapist. She has been single for two years and is fed up with using dating apps.
First impressions?
Tom came in with a big smile and gave me a hug, which put me at ease. He apologized for being 20 minutes late and I thought he was well dressed in a smart shirt. He’s more toned than the men I usually choose, but he’s attractive.
Easy to talk to?
Of course. We talked about lots of different things, including our favourite karaoke numbers. Tom even treated me to his version of Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling in Love, which made me laugh. I didn’t respond with my favourite Natasha Bedingfield song.
He is a personal trainer and admits that he once dressed up in 80s clothes for a Zumba class, which is my favorite exercise. Still, I get the feeling that I am more outgoing than him and much more sociable.
He’s a little more toned than the men I usually go for.
Embarrassing moments?
At first I thought the waiter was my companion, which worried me because he was older than I would have liked. But then he asked me to take my drink and I sighed with relief.
Did sparks fly?
We get along well and he’s an interesting guy, but we’re quite different. He still lives at his parents’ house while I have roommates.
We also have different energies: I like to go out at night, but I get the feeling that he is more of a stay-at-home-at-night kind of guy. So there wasn’t as much chemistry.
I had to rush off to a concert near the end of our date, so we parted at the station with a hug.
Would you watch it again?
We had a lively chat, but I felt like there was no romantic connection, so it’s unlikely we’ll meet again. He didn’t ask for my number, so I’m glad we were on the same page.
Ellie would like to meet someone fun and easy-going, but ambitious. She is not interested in arrogant men.
What do you think he thought of you?
I honestly don’t know, but I hope he thought I was a nice person and enjoyed the date. I’m pretty talkative, so maybe I didn’t realize he was flirting.
He certainly seemed friendly, and I liked that he complimented me on my outfit and said I looked nice.
Would your family and friends like it?
Yes, because he was respectful and kind, but we’re all pretty outgoing, so they’d know it wasn’t for me.
TOM, 32
Single for a year, no children.
Dating someone from the past?
I’ve had a couple of short relationships, the longest of which lasted three months, but nothing serious. Online dating doesn’t work at all and I’ve also tried speed dating a few times. Luckily, I don’t have any horror stories from either.
Pre-date jitters?
No, I don’t get nervous on dates. I wanted to dress up, so I wore a white polo and chinos with white shoes.
Tom (pictured) is a 32-year-old personal trainer. He has been single for a year and has had no luck on dating apps.
First impressions?
Ellie has a lovely smile and an enthusiastic personality, which I really liked. She is naturally pretty, which is something I look for in a girl, and she was very well dressed in a gorgeous red dress. I felt comfortable greeting her with a friendly hug.
Easy to talk to?
Oh, of course. The conversation flowed without any awkward silences. We talked about family, our jobs, and of course, physical activity, given my job. I like it a lot and I like all sports, while she is getting back into running and doing Zumba.
She was amused that I had tried Zumba with a pink headband.
I made her laugh by telling her that I tried Zumba with a pink headband and wristbands. There was a lot of conversation and I liked how easy it was to get along with her.
Embarrassing moments?
None at all.
Did sparks fly?
I didn’t feel any spark with Ellie at first, but that could just as well have been because I was stressed about being late. I’m usually a bit of a flirt, but it’s hard to be completely flirtatious on a blind date. I was relieved that we got along so well, though.
We walked back to the station together, but we didn’t exchange contact details because I wasn’t sure she’d want to. We parted with a friendly hug, so we’ll see what happens. I’d be interested to see if she wants to meet up with me again.
Would you like to see her again?
There wasn’t an immediate romantic impetus, but I’d love to meet her again to see if a spark arises, as I liked how cheerful and naturally attractive Ellie is.
Tom is looking for someone who is kind, honest, loyal and has a sense of humour. Ideally, she likes to keep fit and is open to trying new things.
What do you think he thought of you?
I think she would say it was a fun date – everything went well and we laughed a lot.
Would your family and friends like it?
They would get along well. My mother works as a counselor, so they would have a lot to talk about.
ELLIE’S VERDICT: 7/10
APPRECIATED? It made me feel comfortable.
REGRETS? None, but I still preferred him to the waiter.
COFFEE OR TAXI? A friendly coffee.
TOM’S VERDICT: 9/10
APPRECIATED? It was a pleasure to be around her.
REGRETS? None at all.
COFFEE OR TAXI? A hot chocolate, for sure.
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