First Dates is back with a brand new series

Fred Sirieix and his team are back!

Author: Alex RossPublished 6th Aug 2024
Last updated 7th Aug 2024

With the current series of Love Island coming to an end last week, you may be crying out for some more reality TV to watch! Well, don't panic, because as well as the first ever Love Is Blind: UK arriving on Netflix this week, Channel 4 have also announced that First Dates is back!

That's right, Fred Sirieix and his team are re-opening the doors of the First Dates restaurant, in an attempt to help people find love over dinner.

When does First Dates start?

The 22nd series of First Dates hit our screens on Tuesday 6th August 2024 at 10pm.

Fred said of the show previously: "It's about true love and it's real. It's about real people wanting to find true love and they go there for the right reasons. They may or may not find love on First Dates, but they know that they can trust us to look for the best possible match for them.

"It's also very entertaining. We're very nosy. We want to know what's going on in people's heads and First Dates does that."

When is it on TV?

Following the opening episode on 6th August, First Dates will then air weekly every Tuesday night at 10pm.

What channel is it on?

As usual, First Dates will air on Channel 4 and the channel's streaming service.

Where is the restaurant?

The last series earlier this year saw the show move to The Botanist Bar and Restaurant in Bath.

Who are the staff?

As well as host and matchmaker Fred Sirieix, fans will be pleased to know that barman Merlin Griffiths will be back for the new series, as well as waitress Cici Coleman.

Waiting staff Aoife Smyth, Kofi Yeboah-Mensah, Francesca Martusciello and Jamie McCleave will also feature on series 22.

Check out which other TV shows we can't wait for the return of:

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Ted Lasso

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Last One Laughing

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Emily In Paris

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Vigil

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The Day of the Jackal

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Line of Duty

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Amandaland

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Unforgotten

After series six aired in early 2025, ITV/STV bosses were quick to recommission crime drama Unforgotten for a seventh series, with Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinéad Keenan set to return. There's no official start date just yet, but filming did begin at the start of 2026.

This City Is Ours

Following the first series which aired in 2025, This City Is Ours has been renewed for a second series, with filming now complete! Julie Graham, James Nelson-Joyce and Jack McMullen will all return. There's no start date just yet, but we imagine it will be sometime later in 2026.

The Bear

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Gangs of London

Following the third series in 2025, which ended on a major cliffhanger, Sky have now confirmed Gangs of London has been commissioned for a fourth series. In April 2026, the plot and casting details were announced, as filming officially got underway!

Peaky Blinders

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The Celebrity Traitors

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The Night Agent

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All's Fair

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The Night Manager

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Love Is Blind: UK

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The Morning Show

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Red Eye

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The new series of First Dates begins on Tuesday 6th August.

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