The WORST episodes of First Dates

Every episode of First Dates ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of First Dates!

Every week First Dates follows a range of couples going on a blind date. From the moment they first lay eyes on each other to their parting glance, we’ll be capturing every magic moment in their quest for a compatible match. We’re keeping everything crossed for love to blossom on camera.

Last Updated: 4/19/2024Network: Channel 4Status: Continuing
Share:
Episode 6
star
0.00
0 votes

#1 - Episode 6

Season 19 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/25/2022

Dan puts a broken engagement behind him on a date with personal trainer Jess, whose love life needs a workout. And Burnley carpet salesman Nathan bids to turn over a new leaf.

Episode 4
star
2.00
1 votes

#2 - Episode 4

Season 19 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/11/2022

Truck driver Beth is fed up with flying solo, while Aristos just happens to be a freelance pilot. Meanwhile, Bethany worries that she scares men away.

Episode 7
star
6.55
11 votes

#3 - Episode 7

Season 18 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/17/2022

Gym boss Rebecca wants to get her love life in shape. She likes 'tattooed guys who look like trouble'. And can Adam help Sophie believe in men again?

Episode 4
star
6.60
10 votes

#4 - Episode 4

Season 17 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/27/2021

An international DJ who has learned some new things about her sexuality after a recent holiday to Ibiza now has to get to grips with London's same-sex dating scene - which is not easy when her first date is someone she previously blanked on a dating app. A man with deteriorating vision and a desire to start a family is paired with a trombone player, while other candidates include a full-time carer and a medical student looking to date outside her profession.

Episode 5
star
6.67
15 votes

#5 - Episode 5

Season 18 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/3/2022

Can cocktail mixer Jack stir Alice's feelings? Will beautician Sophie and party girl Tori bridge the age gap? And might sparks fly when dog groomer Brenna meets electrician Ross?

Episode 1
star
6.70
37 votes

#6 - Episode 1

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/12/2014

Best friends Ben and Ross are two cheeky lads from Bournemouth who arrive together for their dates. Ross's advice to his nervous wingman is to 'just be funny', but can Ben laugh broken-hearted Lucy into a second date? And will he be the 'Mr Right, not Mr Right Now' she's looking for? Meanwhile, will Ross be quite so confident when he meets no-nonsense Mancunian Regan? For one dater, the first date nerves present an extra challenge. Paul worries that his stammer, which is sometimes made worse by anxiety, will get the better of him. Will he be able to relax in front of Canadian writer Christine? Or will her claim that men find her intelligence intimidating prevent their relationship from getting off the ground? Self-assured policewoman Angie displays not a shred of nerves on her first date. At 45, she may be 18 years older than her 6' 6" hunky ex-soldier date Chris, but that doesn't stop her going after exactly what she wants... With only an online photo to view, nobody really knows what to expect from their date; certainly not divorcé Mo. He may have been paired with the beautiful, leggy blonde Chloe, but he hasn't bargained for her stumpy legged Chihuahua, Bentley, as well. Fashionista Danielle normally goes out with footballers and models but the sparks fly straight away when she meets city boy Rory. He says that he's 'no Brad Pitt' but could this be the start of something beautiful between the pair?

Watch Now:Apple TV
Episode 1
star
6.79
24 votes

#7 - Episode 1

Season 10 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/4/2018

Mandy and her ex-husband Stuart visit the restaurant together for dates with globetrotting Adam and divorcee Claire. Meanwhile, can tall, handsome J prove there's more to him than meets the eye?

Watch Now:Apple TV
Episode 3
star
6.86
29 votes

#8 - Episode 3

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/26/2014

There's a wave of first date nerves in the restaurant as some of the singletons feel the pressure of meeting a potential soulmate. Series 1 favourite Rajan is back, hoping he'll be fourth time lucky. He's still got an impressive repertoire of chat-up lines, and he's out to impress lovelorn Corinne who has a history of meeting all the wrong men. Not all the daters are as confident as Rajan. Twenty-two-year-old beauty Shakira is on her first ever first date and she's shaking like a leaf waiting to meet an equally nervy Xany. Can they get past their fear once the conversation - and sambuca - start flowing? Young party animal Devon is nervous too, and arrives in the bar needing a very large drink. Her dishy date, debonair Will, is teetotal, but there's chemistry when they see past each other's drink orders. Posh Londoner Purdey likes laid-back Aussie Matt's well-toned arms but she talks too much to give his lips a chance to get any exercise. Opinionated live action role-player and heavy metal fan Dan berates his date, self-proclaimed geek Angela, for liking all sorts of music and not 'nailing her colours to the mast'. Will she want to make plans for a second date? For others, dating can be more significant than a bit of fun. Gentlemanly pensioner John hopes to find understanding and empathy with Jean, who says she 'doesn't need a man; she wants one'.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Episode 6
star
6.87
15 votes

#9 - Episode 6

Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/21/2019

The dating hopefuls in this episode include a builder who's finally ready for a concrete relationship, a naked bike rider, a pair of gamers, and a man who's been married five times.

Episode 4
star
6.88
8 votes

#10 - Episode 4

Season 20 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/8/2023

An alpha female meets a guy called Lion. Is their date a roaring success? Also looking for love are an ambitious florist and an extrovert former dancer who loves to speak French.

Episode 1
star
6.88
8 votes

#11 - Episode 1

Season 20 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/17/2023

The first guests in the 20th series get off to a rocky start when 39-year-old Craig drops the bombshell that he has three children - all with different mothers. Avid gamer Olivia feels she needs to play down her interests when on dates, and hopes to meet someone who will accept them, while dog lover Billy is troubled to discover her date has tattoos of 40 people's names

Watch Now:Apple TV
Episode 2
star
6.90
49 votes

#12 - Episode 2

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/22/2016

Self-confessed ladette Lucy is on the hunt for the love of a good woman, having already met a male forensic investigator last year in the First Dates restaurant. Terry from east London, who has become comfortable living the single life, with his love for the horses and football leaving precious little time for romance, is in danger of blowing his chances with jeweller and widower Lisa when he goes into a bit too much detail about his solo interests.

Episode 3
star
6.90
21 votes

#13 - Episode 3

Season 13 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/26/2019

Reiki practitioner Sairaphina hopes to re-energise her love life. Gym-bunny James arrives for his date with Mum in tow. Fiona bonds with her date over shared life experiences.

Episode 4
star
6.92
12 votes

#14 - Episode 4

Season 14 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/12/2020

'Alpha male' Josh is looking for his very own Kardashian. Is glam 25-year-old Yasmin his match? And will waxing entrepreneur Sherie's Marilyn Monroe dress be a hit with Richard?

Episode 7
star
6.94
34 votes

#15 - Episode 7

Season 9 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/2017

Can painter and lawyer Josh court student and waitress Sophia? and Lesley and Babs bond over their mutual admiration of Michelle Obama.

Episode 12
star
6.96
48 votes

#16 - Episode 12

Season 8 - Episode 12 - Aired 7/4/2017

Diners include Sherry, a 65-year-old dominatrix looking for romance. She hopes chartered surveyor and t'ai chi enthusiast John might be the man for her. Meanwhile, Hannah, 40, is looking for a man who shares her love of adventure. Could 42-year-old Christmas tree farmer Rob be her Mr Right?

Watch Now:Apple TV
Episode 5
star
7.00
9 votes

#17 - Episode 5

Season 20 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/15/2023

This time the First Daters looking for love include a singing pharmacist, a straight-talker, and a former Olympic trampolinist who's worried about his place on the 'ginger scale'

Episode 5
star
7.00
9 votes

#18 - Episode 5

Season 19 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/18/2022

A pony groom who likes getting muddy meets a country boy with a 'bit of an edge'. And a 70-year-old joker has a date with a dance-loving 69-year-old who's into 'grinding'.

Episode 6
star
7.00
45 votes

#19 - Episode 6

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/25/2013

Two previous daters return. Will it be third time lucky for ladies' man Terry, and will Rajan's bold dating techniques and unique line of questioning work this time?

Watch Now:Apple TV
Episode 2
star
7.03
69 votes

#20 - Episode 2

Season 8 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/25/2017

Nervous rugby player Phil meets Sarah who's 21 and has overcome bone cancer. Raymon's 90. He meets ballroom dancing enthusiast Cecelia. And can brickie turned model Frankie charm glamorous PA Rosie?

Episode 10
star
7.03
30 votes

#21 - Episode 10

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/5/2015

South London supermarket worker Luke returns. His last visit to the restaurant came off the rails when conversation turned to 'Netflix and chill', but might it be second time lucky, with Shannon?

Episode 2
star
7.04
27 votes

#22 - Episode 2

Season 12 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/23/2019

Serial dater Jack, who's looking for a 'naughty sort', thinks his luck's in when he meets glamorous fire-breather Safina. But will his laddish charm impress her?

Watch Now:Apple TV
Episode 9
star
7.04
26 votes

#23 - Episode 9

Season 9 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/20/2017

Student Leah's on her first ever date. Welder Daniel and student midwife Emily bond over their shared love of romcoms. Pilot Antonia hopes to meet a man who wants to know the woman behind the uniform.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Episode 8
star
7.04
23 votes

#24 - Episode 8

Season 12 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/4/2019

Will romance blossom for a pest controller and a good time Essex girl, a glamorous granny and a poet, or a working mum with a sideline selling and renting sex dolls?

Episode 2
star
7.07
29 votes

#25 - Episode 2

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/19/2014

Ed is young and well-spoken and is meeting the equally inexperienced Purdey, who tries to hide her 'crazy' personality. Could this be first love for the pair of them? Twenty-three-year-old Essex boy Mark lives with his parents and has no bedroom door, yet he has notched up 64 sexual partners. What will Clare, with a four month rule before she sleeps with a partner, make of his bedroom antics? Peter confesses to a tendency to say the wrong thing, and proves it by telling a bad taste joke about Germany to Steve - who grew up there. Can Peter recover from his faux pas? Also back in the restaurant is Paul. After a difficult first date where his stammer got the better of him, he's back to try his luck at love again. The warm, effusive Kathryn looks a promising date but can he close the deal? Femme fatale Kelly knows what she's looking for in a man, but will Chelsea boy Ben tick her boxes? And will she be the lady he's looking for? Taking a second shot at romance is divorcé Mo. Still looking for love, he has high hopes for 'hot and spicy' Saniya, but could she be too hot to handle?

Watch Now:Apple TV