Channel 4 has revealed that its popular dating show First Dates is set to move to a new restaurant in Manchester for the next series.
The show sees singletons going on blind dates at a restaurant all under the watchful eye of maitre d’ Fred Sirieix, and has been filmed at D&D Group's Paternoster Chop House in St Paul's for the last 15 series.
However, in a move that aligns with production company Twenty Twenty’s aim to make television more regional, everything is changing for series 16 of the show; filming will move up North to The Refinery Spinningfields, in Manchester.
Danny Horan, who is head of factual at Channel 4, explained: "This is just one part of factual's commitment to expand out of London at scale."
Head of Twenty Twenty productions Leanne Klein also expressed her excitement "To be taking our flagship dating series to the regions" and hinted that there might also be a few changes in the new series. She continued: “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."
With the last series filmed in the London restaurant set to air in the coming months, First Dates has been recommissioned for another 30 episodes which were due to be filmed last year. These will be the first episodes to feature the new restaurant in Manchester.
First airing in 2013, First Dates has gone on to win BAFTA’s and has become one of Channel 4’s most-watched programmes.
If it sounds like something you’d like to try yourself, applications are currently open for the show on the Twenty Twenty website. If you don’t fancy being watched by cameras, and we wouldn’t blame you, why not check out our list of the best restaurants in London for a first date.