First dates are tough. They can produce moments that will send a shiver down your spine years after the fact. So, imagine how these poor souls feel when their car-crash first encounters played out on national television.
As the latest season of First Dates continues on our screens, we take a look back at some of the most CRINGE moments on the show from episodes past.
First class ticket to the friend-zone.
Oh the humanity! This was hard to watch but like a car crash, in a sick, voyeuristic way, you can't help it.
It all looked to be going so well with Wexford girl Amy on her First Date with Kildare architect Darryl. There were no awkward silences and their sense of humour seemed to be so in-sync it made you feel, maybe, maybe they're made for each other.
Daryl was sending out all the right signals, playfully flirting with a reciprocating Amy, then came the pain. When asked will they see each again, Darryl said definitely "but more just as friends".
Ouch! Poor Amy, you just want to reach through the TV screen and give her a hug. You're too good for him anyway Amy!
Is this the worst First Date ever?
Some say opposites attract, but for Leigh and Samuel, this couldn't be further from the truth. It started off badly when Samuel entered the restaurant and seconds after introducing himself, decided to make fun of Leigh and his friend Niamh's choice of drinks.
This was just an appetizer to Samuel's brutal honesty. As the date continued, Samuel went on to express his distaste for Leigh's hair, which doesn't go down well. To break the then very awkward silence, Samuel exits the stage left, to the bathroom to ring a friend to devise an escape plan.
Meanwhile, Leigh is doing the same with his friend Niamh back outside. Actually, when you think about it, maybe Leigh and Samuel aren't opposites after all. You're even wearing the same shirts, lads!
Don't miss tonight’s Late Late Show there'll be a whole lot of love… ❤️ and maybe a little bit of loathing. 😒
— RTÉ2 (@RTE2) January 5, 2018
Find out what went on when tonight’s guests Leigh and Samuel met in the First Dates restaurant... 😉 #FirstDatesIRL pic.twitter.com/3WL8enMX6N
This might be the worst First Date conversation ever.
Stop talking, stop talking. OH GOD STOP TALKING! First dates are nerve wracking experiences. Meeting a new person, trying to make a good first impression and unsure of what may or may not offend someone is tough.
It's best then to keep the conversation light, throw in some jokes, ask questions, like, have you ever travelled? Travel stories are always a great conversation starter.
Unless you're John from Limerick. John is well travelled so he must have endless stories to tell. But on his first date with Clodagh from Meath he decides to lament on his visit to Cambodia's Killing Fields. Can it get worse?
Well yes. John then decides to focus on the baby tree from said Killing Fields. Babies and Killing Fields, romance chat this is not. Clodagh's face says it all.
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When you're so proud of the Harry Potter song you wrote, you just have to share.
Looking back on his first date with lifeguard Jane, I reckon Alan wished he had not told her he was a Harry Potter fan. On finding out this fact, Jane takes this opportunity to give Alan a private, acapella rendition of the Harry Potter song she has written and is beyond proud of.
Bless Alan, ever the gentleman, when Jane asks if he'd like to hear it, he enthusiastically yelps: "I'd love to". Then there's no stopping Jane from her flow with sound effects and hand gestures to accompany her fast-paced lyrics.
Again, hat's off to Alan, he keeps it together, although his body language does scream, OH GOD PLEASE STOP!
Philosificle..Philoph…Philophisicle?
Five syllable words are tough. They can be tongue –twisters, especially if you're a bit nervy on a first date.
So, we'll give Ciaran the benefit of the doubt and assume he was just nervous when he tried to get his head around the word 'philosophical'.
As he was discussing his growth as a young man and how he's trying to find out who he is in himself, what he attempted to say, "we've gone very philosophical". Unfortunately, it didn't come out that way. Just watch...
The art of NOT revealing all on your first date
"I might as well just do it now, before you get freaked out". If you have to say that, it's probably already too late.
Mr. Germaphobia as he shall be known almost sends his date running for the exit when he pulls out his own personal knife and fork, in a fancy restaurant.
Mr. Germaphobia then goes as far as to ask the waitress to take away the restaurant's perfectly fine cutlery, as if it is going to jump up and bite him. It is at this point Mr. Germaphobia steps it up a gear and takes out his own personal bottle of hand sanitizer.
His date's facial expression says it all. When Mr. Germaphobia then tells us of his fear of people sneezing, his date lets him know that there may be an issue here, as he has hay fever. Something tells us this relationship was never destined to blossom.
First Dates Ireland sponsored by Lucozade Zero airs every Thursday on RTÉ2 at 9.30pm.
