When is Blind Date on Channel 5 tonight, who is presenter Paul O’Grady and how does the dating show work?
FORGET Love Island, First Dates and Take Me Out - before Paddy McGuinness was a household name and Ian Stirling was even born, Saturday night dating was all about the legendary Cilla Black.
Blind Date returned last year with Paul O'Grady at the helm, following a 13-year hiatus. Here's everything you need to know about the dating show...
When is Blind Date on TV?
Blind Date series three continues on Channel 5 tonight, December 29, at 7pm.
The show's first series failed to create any lasting matches and producers hope to sex up the format by sending couples on glam foreign holidays.
Commissioning editor Sean Doyle exclusively told The Sun: “The only thing missing last year was love. I think personally the dates were a bit short.
“In series two we are trying to find love. The format is still in safe hands but it is slightly grubbier now.”
Who is presenter Paul O'Grady?
Paul returns as the presenter of Blind Date, after inheriting the role from the late original presenter Cilla Black.
Paul was Cilla's best friend and was so close to the late Scouser he delivered the eulogy at her funeral.
The legendary British presenter Cilla passed away in August 2015, having suffered a stroke following a fall in her Spanish villa.
He said before series one: “Blind Date is an incredibly special family show which brought laughter, tears and joy to TV viewers.
“I am honoured to present the brand new series and after speaking to Channel 5, I know the series is in safe hands.
“I can’t wait to see if we can find love.”
Cilla quit in 2003 after ratings of the show, which ran for 373 episodes, fell to less than 3 million viewers.
Paul, 63, is widely renowned for his TV work including stints on Blankety Blank, The Paul O'Grady show and most recently For the Love of Dogs.
How does Blind Date work?
The new reboot of Blind Date was brought up to date "while paying respect to the traditions" of the show by allowing gay and lesbian singletons to take part.
It involves one singleton asking three members of the opposite sex questions about them.
Their potential blind dates are hidden behind a screen, and the contestant must pick one lucky lad or lady based purely on their answers.
The two rejected hopefuls then parade past the contestant before the screen is pulled back to reveal their often disappointing, chosen date.
The new couples then pick a destination for their all-expenses-paid holiday date from an envelope, with locations ranging from Bognor Regis to the Maldives.
It often did not work out well, with poor Cilla being forced to break up arguments when the couples returned to next week to discuss their date.
However, three couples did go on to get married - while the likes of Amanda Holden and Nikki Grahame launched their careers on the dating show.