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Dinner Date
Dinner Date
Dinner Date
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Dinner Date
GenreDating game show
Created byJoseph Varley & Jimmy Baker
Narrated byCharlotte Hudson (2010–12)
Natalie Casey (2014–2023)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series12[1]
No. of episodes302[1]
Production
Running time60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production companyHat Trick Productions
Original release
NetworkITV (2010–12)
ITVBe (2014–2023)
Release9 August 2010 (2010-08-09) –
4 June 2023 (2023-06-04)

Dinner Date is a British dating game show, which first aired on ITV from 9 August 2010 to 28 December 2012, with subsequent new series airing on sister channel ITVBe from 8 October 2014 to 4 June 2023. The programme format was created by Jimmy Baker and Joseph Varley.[2] The programme makes up a significant proportion of ITVBe's output, with several repeats airing daily. New-to-air episodes are generally scheduled on a weekly basis, although some episodes from the fifth series were stripped daily across weeknights.

Premise

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The show involves a man or woman guest going for dinner at three different people's houses on consecutive nights. The dates are chosen at the start of the episode, when the dater chooses their three blind dates by going through five different three-course menus or a replacement date if he or she falls ill. The hosts are shown preparing a meal, usually some kind of interesting dish, and then the guest arrives. Afterward each host gives ratings of the guest, but then it is up to the guest to subsequently choose which of them they would like to go on a date to a restaurant with. The two losing contestants are given ready meals to be eaten at home. At the end of the show, the viewers are told whether they are still dating or not. Sometimes updates of the romantic lives of the two unpicked hosts are given as well.

International versions

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The UK version of Dinner Date broadcasts in over 20 countries, including; Australia, Belgium, Bosnia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Serbia and Sweden.

There was also an Australian version of Dinner Date which aired on the Seven Network in 2011 hosted by Manu Feildel and a South African version of the show. Since 2020 there is also a German version of the show aired on ZDF Neo.

Transmissions

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Series Start date End date Episodes
1 9 August 2010 26 November 2010 30[1]
2 20 June 2011 29 July 2011 30[1]
3 15 April 2012 28 December 2012 40[1]
4 8 October 2014 29 April 2015 31[1]
5 12 August 2015 25 March 2016 26[1]
6 11 May 2016 14 December 2016 26[1]
7 1 February 2017 13 December 2017 26[1]
8 28 February 2018 12 December 2018 26[1]
9 24 October 2018 11 December 2019 29[1]
10 8 April 2020 9 December 2020 26[1]
11 13 December 2021 6 April 2022 26[1]
12 14 December 2022 4 June 2023 26[1]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dinner Date

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dinner Date is a British reality dating game show created by that premiered on ITV on 9 August 2010 and ran until 2023, primarily airing on in later series. The show concluded in 2023 with no further series produced, following the closure of ITVBe in June 2025. In each episode, a single contestant—known as the "picker"—reviews five three-course menus submitted by potential dates and selects three to visit for home-cooked dinners, aiming to find romance through shared meals. The show's format emphasizes culinary skills and as key to attraction, with the picker rating each date on a one-to-three-star scale based on the food quality and personal compatibility. The top-rated cook earns a second date at a , while the other two receive a simple takeaway meal as consolation. Over its run, Dinner Date produced 12 series totaling 324 episodes, each approximately one hour long, narrated initially by and later by others. Starting with series 4 in 2014, the program incorporated celebrity contestants, such as and , to boost viewership. The series has been praised for its unique blend of food and but noted for rare successful matches, often highlighting awkward or mismatched encounters. Hat Trick's format has inspired international adaptations, including versions in and . Episodes are available for streaming on .

Format and Premise

Core Concept

Dinner Date is a British reality series in which a single contestant, known as the "picker," evaluates potential romantic partners based exclusively on the three-course menus they have prepared, highlighting how culinary preferences and skills can influence initial attraction. In each episode, the picker is presented with five menus submitted by prospective dates and selects three to experience, focusing on the , , and of the dishes as indicators of and compatibility. This format emphasizes as the primary medium for connection, allowing participants to showcase their and personal style through home cooking rather than traditional visual or conversational cues alone. The show's structure ensures that the picker has no access to photographs, profiles, or personal details of the contestants, relying solely on the descriptions to make their choices and thereby revealing aspects of character through culinary decisions, such as adventurous flavor combinations or selections. This approach aims to strip away superficial judgments, promoting a more of potential matches centered on shared interests in food and entertaining. By judging based on menus, the series underscores the idea that cooking abilities can serve as a for care and effort in relationships. Central to the show's premise is the intimate "dinner date" hosted in the cooks' own homes, where the picker enjoys a full three-course prepared on-site, contrasting with restaurant-based formats that often feel more formal and less personal. This home environment is intended to encourage genuine interactions over shared meals, fostering deeper connections through the vulnerability of cooking for a stranger and the comfort of a domestic setting. Such a setup differentiates Dinner Date by prioritizing the sensory and emotional experience of food in building rapport.

Episode Flow

In a typical episode of Dinner Date, the central contestant, known as the "picker," begins by reviewing five anonymous three-course menus submitted by potential dates, who act as the "cooks." The picker selects three menus that appeal most based solely on the described dishes, with no prior knowledge of the cooks' identities, appearances, or personalities. The picker then embarks on three blind dates over consecutive evenings, visiting each selected cook's home for a private dinner. Each date features the cook preparing and serving the full menu in their own kitchen and dining space, creating an intimate setting that emphasizes both culinary skills and personal interaction; these dinners are captured on camera in real time, typically lasting several hours though condensed for broadcast. Following each dinner, the picker participates in a private where they rate the meal's quality and the interpersonal chemistry on a one-to-three star scale, providing candid reflections on the food's taste, presentation, and the date's overall vibe. These ratings help inform the picker's final decision but are revealed progressively to build tension. At the episode's climax, the picker returns to a neutral location for the reveal, where they announce their choice of one cook for a fully funded second date at a , notifying the others via phone calls that often result in awkward silences or heartfelt exchanges. The unchosen cooks receive a meal as , along with feedback on their scores, while the selected pair is shown preparing for their follow-up outing. Throughout the episode, a narrator—initially voiced by and later by others, such as —delivers witty, sarcastic commentary on the proceedings, highlighting humorous mishaps, flirtations, and disappointments to enhance the value. Episodes generally run for 44 to 47 minutes, structuring the narrative around the picker's journey from menu selection to romantic resolution.

Production and Development

Creation and Launch

Dinner Date was conceived by producers Jimmy Baker and Joseph Varley in 2010 as a cost-effective format that blended elements of culinary competition with romance, drawing inspiration from shows like . They pitched the concept to ITV, emphasizing its potential for low production expenses by forgoing expensive studio sets in favor of filming in contestants' actual homes, which allowed for authentic, intimate dinner scenarios without the need for elaborate builds or props. This innovative approach positioned the series as an accessible alternative to more resource-intensive programs, focusing on the picker selecting dates based solely on submitted menus. The series made its debut on ITV with the first episode airing on 9 2010, featuring Charlie from as the initial picker. The inaugural run consisted of 30 episodes, each following the core premise where a singleton evaluates five menus to choose three blind dates, hosted in the cooks' homes over consecutive nights. Narration for these early episodes was provided by , whose voiceover guided viewers through the picker's decisions and the unfolding dinners with a mix of enthusiasm and wry observation. In 2014, following a brief hiatus and an initial cancellation announcement in 2013, the show shifted to to capitalize on expanded daytime scheduling opportunities, which facilitated more frequent airings and a longer production cycle. This move extended the series until it was shelved in April 2025 after 12 series, with no plans for future episodes as of November 2025, resulting in 342 episodes and solidifying its role as a staple of ITV's lineup. The emphasis on utilizing contestants' homes remained a cornerstone, keeping overheads minimal while enabling the format's scalability for repeated seasons.

Filming Process

The production workflow for Dinner Date episodes centers on a compact of approximately 10-12 members, including directors, producers, and camera operators, who arrive at contestants' homes several hours early to set up equipment and assist with preparations. According to participant accounts, filming typically spans 1.5 to two days per episode, with the crew arriving around 2 PM to help with food prep and technical setup, while guests arrive by 6 PM for the dinner, extending into late nights that can last until 4 AM. Hidden cameras and microphones are deployed throughout the home to capture unscripted interactions, though producers guide dialogue and reshoots for multiple angles to ensure narrative flow, such as repeating doorstep introductions with a single camera for indoor and outdoor perspectives. Specific challenges arise from the home-based format, particularly ensuring when amateur cooks prepare multi-course meals under time pressure, as studies on television cooking shows indicate frequent deviations from guidelines like proper handwashing and cross-contamination prevention, potentially misleading viewers on safe practices. The diverse home environments—from compact urban apartments to spacious rural houses—demand quick adaptations by the , including managing and space constraints without disrupting the intimate setting, while long commutes for contestants (often 2-3 hours) and the need for continuity shots result in cold and awkward interruptions during meals. Over the series' run, narrators have changed to refresh the show's tone, with providing voiceover from 2014 onward, following earlier contributors, to deliver humorous commentary on the dates. Episodes undergo a rapid editing process to capture the quick-turnaround nature of , condensing hours of footage—including 60-minute host interviews into 30-second clips—into a 60-minute broadcast, often completed in weeks to align with weekly airing schedules. Contestants sign waivers authorizing filming in private homes, covering rights to personal spaces and interactions.

Broadcast History

UK Airings

Dinner Date premiered on ITV on 9 August 2010, with the first series airing weekday evenings and featuring 30 episodes centered around contestants selecting blind dates based on submitted menus. The show continued on ITV through its second and third series in 2011 and 2012, respectively, maintaining a similar prime-time schedule before being axed in late 2013. In April 2014, ITV announced a revival for a fourth series, shifting the program to its new sister channel , where it adopted a more frequent airing pattern of daily episodes to fit the channel's lifestyle-oriented lineup. From 2015 to 2018, Dinner Date reached its peak broadcast frequency on , with five new episodes airing each week during daytime slots, allowing for broader accessibility amid evolving viewer habits toward on-demand content. The program incorporated celebrity specials during this period, including episodes in 2020 featuring Love Island stars such as Michael Griffiths, who dated contestant Zoe. These specials highlighted the show's adaptability, blending its core format with high-profile guests to attract crossover audiences from other reality franchises. Over its run, Dinner Date produced 12 series totaling more than 340 episodes, with the final series airing in 2023 on . Repeats became a staple post-2023, frequently scheduled on and available for streaming on , sustaining the show's presence as linear TV viewership declined. The transition from ITV's prime-time to 's daytime programming in 2014 targeted more casual, budget-conscious viewers seeking during off-peak hours. In 2025, following 's closure in June 2025 and replacement by ITV Quiz, the series was shelved with no plans for revival, marking the end of its 13-year broadcast tenure.

International Adaptations

The format of Dinner Date, developed by , has been adapted internationally through sales by Hat Trick International, with versions produced in several countries that retain the core premise of contestants selecting blind dates based on submitted menus for home-cooked meals. The adaptation, titled Dinner Date Australia, premiered on the Seven Network in 2011, hosted by celebrity chef , and consisted of a single season of eight 60-minute episodes produced by Perpetual Entertainment in association with Quail Television. This marked the first major non-UK production of the format, blending the original British structure with local elements while airing in prime time to capitalize on the country's interest in food and shows. In , Dinner Date South Africa aired from 2017 to 2020 on SABC3, with additional broadcasts on starting in 2019, produced by Phoenix Productions in collaboration with Quizzical Pictures. The series followed the standard format without a named host, emphasizing diverse contestants preparing three-course meals in their homes to vie for a second date, and ran for multiple seasons across its three-year run on the public broadcaster. A German version, Dinner Date - Die Datingshow mit Biss, was broadcast from 2019 to 2020, adapting the concept for local audiences with episodes focusing on cooking-enthusiastic singles seeking romance through home dinners. Hat Trick International has licensed the format to over a dozen territories worldwide, including recent deals for productions in Poland (seventh series on in 2023), , and , though most international runs have been limited in scope compared to the long-running original. No major ongoing international series have been reported since 2023, reflecting a trend toward shorter adaptations tailored to regional preferences for and culinary programming.

Reception and Legacy

Viewership and Ratings

Dinner Date's viewership began modestly upon its 2010 debut on ITV. The show's second series in 2011 saw a notable increase, peaking at 1.55 million viewers and outperforming competitor in some metrics. By 2014, following its revival on the newly launched channel, an episode drew 780,000 viewers, contributing to the network's initial success as a key part of its lifestyle programming lineup. Viewership trended downward in later seasons amid rising streaming competition. A in 2017 came with the birth of the show's first "Dinner Date baby" to contestants Jemma Simpson and Edd Rodgers, who met during the 2010 series, underscoring the program's occasional long-term cultural resonance.

Critical and Cultural Impact

Dinner Date has garnered a mixed , often lauded for providing light-hearted amid its portrayal of awkward romantic encounters. A 2017 article hailed it as "the greatest show on British TV," emphasizing its appeal as a through "compulsive viewing" of failed dates marked by anti-chemistry and full-body cringe, offering viewers a humorous escape into mundane struggles. Similarly, a 2011 Guardian review described the series as "perfect teatime telly," appreciating its sarcastically narrated format that flings strangers into unnatural situations for entertaining discomfort. Critics have also highlighted drawbacks, including the show's superficial matchmaking process and repetitive structure, which prioritize food over genuine connection and rarely yield lasting romance. The VICE piece critiqued Dinner Date for consistently demonstrating the "most ineffective method" of pursuing , underscoring its simplistic blend of culinary themes and romantic futility. In terms of cultural legacy, Dinner Date contributed to the popularization of home-cooking dates in modern culture, influencing subsequent television formats that merge food preparation with interpersonal chemistry. The series has produced tangible real-world outcomes, such as lasting relationships; notably, contestants Jemma Simpson and Edd Rodgers met on the show, married, and welcomed its first child, daughter , in 2017. Celebrity specials from 2020 to 2021, featuring personalities like Anton Danyluk and Nathan Ramsey, generated buzz and highlighted the format's adaptability to high-profile participants. Awkward moments from episodes frequently inspired viral memes across , amplifying the show's role in humor. Its post-2023 streaming availability on and , added in late 2024, has sustained its relevance amid the dominance of dating apps, allowing new audiences to engage with its escapist charm. In April 2025, ITV axed the series following the announcement of ITVBe's shutdown, marking the end of its broadcast run.

References

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