Entertainment

First ever Blind Date LGBT couple matched up on show

It is the first in a series of episodes featuring LGBT contestants looking for love.
It is the first in a series of episodes featuring LGBT contestants looking for love. It is the first in a series of episodes featuring LGBT contestants looking for love.

The first ever LGBT couple on Blind Date have been paired up on the hit rebooted show.

Coinciding with London Pride, Celine Dion super-fan Alice Tate, 29, chose to go on a date with digital content manager Steph, 26.

Alice quizzed Sarah, 30, and New Zealand-born Jane, 31 and Steph on their personalities before opting to choose the latter.

It is the first of several episodes featuring lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender contestants and the move was heralded as a “huge and glorious step forward” by viewers on social media.

Tim Footman wrote on Twitter: “In its own silly way, having gay couples on #BlindDate is a huge and glorious step forward.”

Kayleigh BKL posted: “Really glad to see a dating show including the lgbtq+ community #blinddate”, while Sian Jasper wrote that former presenter Cilla Black would be looking down smiling.

“It’s been over 30 years in the making,” she added.

Black, who died in August 2015, hosted the popular dating programme for 18 years until 2003, leaving the show after stunning viewers and programme bosses by quitting live on air. It was rebooted on Channel 5 with Paul O’Grady in the host role earlier this year.

Alice Tate
Alice Tate (Mark Yeoman)
Alice Tate (Channel 5)

Alice, who works as a compliance administrator for a frozen foods company, had said she is a positive person who is looking for someone she loves as much as Dion.

Steph had joked she spends more time with her dogs than out on dates and is looking for someone interested in music, arts and community events.

Also matched up on Saturday night’s show were Antoni and Deborah.

:: Blind Date returns next Saturday at 8pm.