Blind date: ‘After too many tepid, app-based dates, outsourcing my love life to a paper is obviously the way to go’

4 days ago 10

A smiling young woman with long blond hair and a fringe, wearing a white shirt, a short denim skirt and chunky brown boots

Hannah on Ioan

What were you hoping for?
A fun evening with a stranger … hopefully good chat and not painfully awkward.

First impressions?
Warm, friendly and charismatic.

What did you talk about?
What didn’t we talk about? We discussed the dating world, our travel experiences, funny personal stories and British TV icons.

Most awkward moment?
When we both arrived at the same time and stood at the front of the restaurant wondering if we were each other’s date … but feeling too awkward to ask.

Good table manners?
Absolutely.

Best thing about Ioan?
I genuinely can’t pick one best thing … I thought Ioan was a wonderful person and loved his energy and kind, lighthearted spirit.

Q&A

Fancy a blind date?

Show

Blind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.

What questions will I be asked?
We ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions cover everything you would like to know, tell us what’s on your mind.

Can I choose who I match with?
No, it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests, preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely to be.

Can I pick the photograph?
No, but don't worry: we'll choose the nicest ones.

What personal details will appear?
Your first name, job and age.

How should I answer?
Honestly but respectfully. Be mindful of how it will read to your date, and that Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online.

Will I see the other person’s answers?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details.

Will you find me The One?
We’ll try! Marriage! Babies!

Can I do it in my home town?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere.

How to apply
Email [email protected]

Would you introduce Ioan to your friends?
Totally … he would fit right in!

Describe Ioan in three words
Funny, charming, a gentleman.

What do you think Ioan made of you?
I think he would say I’m funny and can hold a conversation.

Did you go on somewhere?
Yes, we went to a nearby pub for a final drink.

And … did you kiss?
No, we did not.

If you could change one thing about the date, what would it be?
I wouldn’t change a thing. I had such a fun, fabulous evening.

Marks out of 10?
10/10.

Would you meet again?
Deffo. Thank you, Guardian, for a wonderful blind date!

A smiling young woman with long blond hair and a fringe, and a young man with curly brown hair, both holding glasses of red wine

A young man with curly brown hair wearing a grey T-shirt, trousers and trainers, with a sweatshirt tied round his waist

Ioan on Hannah

What were you hoping for?
Something different from tepid, app-based dates. Obviously, outsourcing your love life to a national newspaper is the way to go.

First impressions?
Formidable bangs and an even more formidable intellect.

What did you talk about?
The A-Z of date one essentials.

Most awkward moment?
Arriving at the restaurant and spotting the only other solo diner, but being too scared to ask if it was Hannah.

Good table manners?
Faultless olive skewering technique and generous with the wine.

Best thing about Hannah?
She was easy to talk to – there was a refreshing lack of awkward small talk.

Would you introduce Hannah to your friends?
I reckon every group needs a Hannah.

Describe Hannah in three words
Assured, friendly, and funny.

What do you think Hannah made of you?
For the first 15 minutes, she might have wondered why the Guardian had sent her a mildly rainswept pastiche of a functioning adult. After that, hopefully interesting enough company.

Did you go on somewhere?
We sampled a pub’s dubious house red.

And … did you kiss?
Please! Saving that for marriage.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Checking the weather forecast.

Marks out of 10?
8.

Would you meet again?
As friends, for sure.

Hannah and Ioan ate at Emilia’s in London SW1. Fancy a blind date? Email [email protected]

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