First Dates is once again returning to film a new series in Manchester city centre and is looking for couples to be extras on ‘background dates’.
Filming for the new series of the hit Channel 4 dating show had already begun at Spinningfields restaurant The Refinery in March, but the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic understandably brought production to a halt.
With cameras set to start rolling again in the coming weeks, the producers have now issued an open casting call for ‘background daters’.
Making the announcement in a post to Instagram, the producers said: “The First Dates restaurant is coming to Manchester, and we’re looking for couples aged 18-21 from the local area to join us in the restaurant as background daters when the cameras arrive in the coming weeks,”
“Each couple will receive £50 towards the cost of their meal and will get to enjoy the atmosphere of the First Dates restaurant during filming, without the pressure of being a featured dater on a blind date”.
ADVERTISEMENT
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEFIZpnoyQb/
First Dates initially hit TV screens in the UK back in 2013.
The show’s simple format sees singletons matched up for a blind dinner date and there’s already an impressive success rate having led to several engagements, marriages and even a baby.
ADVERTISEMENT
Even though production is set to get back underway soon, this series of First Dates is probably going to be a different show than the one we are used to as social distancing measures will be in place and couples will be prevented from exchanging in any form of physical contact, including hugging and kissing.
Earlier series’ of First Dates were previously filmed at restaurants in London, but production company Twenty Twenty said the Manchester move showed its commitment to the UK regions.
Managing Director Leanne Klein said: “We are very excited to be taking our flagship dating series to [Manchester]. With the move of the First Dates restaurant, we will have the chance to expose our daters to a brand new experience with a few exciting new tweaks to the much loved format.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Madonna Benjamin – Commissioning Editor for Channel 4 – added: “We can’t wait to work with Twenty Twenty to continue building on the success of First Dates. The new restaurant location and regional production base provide exciting opportunities for the series.”
First Dates / Channel 4
Do you fancy going on what is potentially one of the best socially-distanced date nights there is in Manchester city centre right now?
To apply to become a ‘background dater’ on First Dates, you can email: [email protected]
Trending
Channel 4 is looking for Mancs who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Have you always wanted to see how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now’s your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: “Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?”
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city – used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare – with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden – which is part of ITV Studios – for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on Mancs and people up and down the country with the ‘courage and ingenuity’ to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let’s prove what Mancs are made of.
Hundreds of katsu curries are being given out for FREE in Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of katsu curries are being dished up and given out for free in Manchester this week, but only for certain people.
And those lucky people will be students.
That’s right… a new semester is upon us, and thousands of freshers and returning students are descending on the city and Manchester‘s many universities for another year. But the life of a student isn’t exactly the cheapest sometimes, especially for those who haven’t had to live on a budget before moving out or into halls.
But to make things a little easier, Tampopo has announced it’ll be serving hundreds of one of its most popular dishes for free this week.
Tampopo is celebrating National Katsu Curry Day in the most delicious way possible, by giving away 700 Katsu Curries with rice for free, exclusively to freshers and students this Sunday (27 September).
Whether you’re brand new to the city, settling back into uni life, or you’re simply in need of a katsu fix, students can head to their nearest participating Tampopo and tuck into a hearty meal without needing to spend a penny.
100 katsu curries will be available each from 12-2pm at both Tampopo restaurants in Manchester city centre – which are on Albert Square, and in the Corn Exchange – or if you head over to the Trafford Centre, both the Tampopo there and the East Street sites are taking part.
“[Our] Katsu Curry has long been one of our most-loved dishes, so National Katsu Curry Day felt like the perfect excuse to give students a proper welcome to the new academic year,” Tampopo said in a statement.
So, are you feeling hungry then? The offer is exclusively available for takeaway only to freshers and students with a valid student ID, which they must present on collection.
100 portions are available at each participating location, and just one free katsu curry with rice will be available per person.
Emily Sergeant -
24th August 2020 
