First Dates - Season 22

The restaurant heats up as fire performer Hayley goes on a date with business owner Glen who claims if he were a movie character it would be Christian Grey. Heavily tattooed Sarah, 36-years-old from Wales, is looking for a man to take her bins out on a Tuesday and hopes to find that quality in the equally inked Dan. Twenty-four year-old William is matched with with 23-year-old Zara, both parties are on their first date ever. The final couple into the restaurant are 34-year-old Ashauna and 38-year-old Kurt who lends a sympathetic ear when Ashauna discusses her self-esteem taking a hit after facing dating discrimination over her albinism.

Best friends Emma and Dani hope that going on a double date will double their chances of leaving with the one for them. Emma is matched with wildlife documentary filmmaker Joe while Dani is paired with construction worker Clinton but the girls start to wonder if they should swap partners. Factory worker Mark is hoping Venezuelan cleaner Aire will be his perfect salsa partner and DJ Mel goes on a date with fashion graduate Samira.

Sixty-three-year-old Jean, a French teacher and avid reader, is looking for someone to match her intellect. Enter 65-year-old crime fiction writer Andy, they're both eager to find love later in life after overcoming obstacles. Plus, trainee barrister Holly, who's 28, is matched with 26-year-old artist Marcella.

Pink-jacket-rocking Taiwo is first into the restaurant, for a date with fellow content creator Hemah. Hemah's opening gambit is to tell Taiwo to choose her drink, and he spends the rest of the date trying to keep up. Enthusiastic adventure swimmer Lindsey is paired with Sicilian chef Stefano, while party-loving DJ Bear is matched with matched with keen-to-get-married nanny Hollie.

Hoping to meet someone 'feral, but not too feral', divorcee Jo is introduced to pub landlord Sam. They bond over Tank Girl and Jo soon feels comfortable enough to speak about her alopecia. Fiftysomething voice-over artist Ingrid is paired with 57-year-old cinema operator Simon and they quickly connect over a shared passion for film. Marina is a 28-year-old jewellery designer searching for a Christian who believes in chastity before marriage. Twenty-nine-year-old barber Costa is a man of faith who says grace before they eat. Has Marina found her miracle man?

Twenty six-year-old graphic designer Charlie says that some people describe her optimism as 'relentless'. She's matched with 25-year-old Australian osteopath Benj, who loves to talk about his feelings and is fond of a cry. Bus driver Tommy and electrician Luke both agree that they hate dating apps and hook-up culture. However, Luke then learns something about Tommy that leaves their date hanging by a thread. Stephen is divorced with two kids, he's 46, and he works as a toiletry products salesman. He gives his date, 42-year-old mum-of-one Rachel, a lesson in loo paper. Will she be happy to roll with it?

After suffering a life-threatening illness, 29-year-old Georgina is back on the dating scene and looking for a rugged man. Her needs might be supplied in the shape of 36-year-old heavily tattooed security guard Seb. Ashleigh, who's 37 and looking for someone to share her love of Dungeons and Dragons, meets 34-year-old Hailey, a scholar of Shakespeare who hasn't had a relationship with a woman since she came out. Single mother-of-two Kate loves the Viking look. Her match, Jim, may look tough on the outside, but confesses that he's emotional on the inside and has experienced his fair share of sadness.

Italian 'nice guy' Matteo's date is Sam, a 38-year-old marketing consultant, who pursues a rather intense line of questioning - with babies mentioned before they've even ordered dinner. Hoping to turn over a new leaf in love is 28-year-old self-proclaimed tree-hugger Nathan. Entering the restaurant wearing a skirt, Nathan is on the hunt to find someone to share a life on the wild side. In walks 26-year-old Love, a fellow nature lover and Hare Krishna believer, whose spirituality has been a turn-off for dates in the past. A chef and a wedding singer are also among those hoping to meet their match.

Shaven-headed aspiring rapper Matt is romantically minded enough to present a bouquet of flowers to his date, music producer Breda. Dynamic grandmother Karen sets out to give retired teacher Jim's dating game a boost, while Abbie is matched with Matt, who struggles with confidence and battles to make an order in restaurants. Abbie warms up her tongue-tied date - before dropping a bombshell.