Interview with Fred Sirieix
Category: Press Pack ArticleFirst Dates is back with a beautiful new restaurant. How does it feel to be filming in Bath?
Filming in Bath was the best decision we've made. For me, it felt like the best ever First Dates that we've had in 10 years. It was just really beautiful and magical. Everybody's energy, enthusiasm and excitement was just through the roof. I love Bath, it's a beautiful historic city which dates back from the Romans and before. It's all made of stone, in a way that kind of reminds me of some of the old towns in Italy, where you have that romance in the air. It just feels very peaceful and relaxed so when the daters arrived at the new First Dates restaurant, people just fell in love with the place. There was something quite magical there at the First Dates restaurant!
Do you think the history of the building really adds something?
Definitely, I think the history is very important. A lot of things have happened in that venue over time. It sucks up all these energies, everybody was just transported like magic, we were all kind of floating on this magical carpet or on the clouds! It was very joyful.
Can you think back to when you were filming if you have a favourite date from the new series that viewers should look out for?
Oh, we had an old couple and the man was singing. And he was serenading his date. It was so beautiful.
Why do you think First Dates has been so successful?
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. Also we can all relate to it, whether we're in a relationship or not, we hear their stories and I think that what it reminds us is that nothing is normal, and nothing is not normal. It's about what you and this other person find together and how you are making a connection together. 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.
What makes it different from other dating shows out there?
It's the authenticity, it's the fact that people want to find love. They don't want to have a fling. They want to find somebody that they're going to make a connection with and that's why they come. We take it very seriously, it's not like we're playing games. You have to sit down and get to know each other, you’ve got to engage. You’ve got to open up, be vulnerable and you're gonna find a connection. That's what you came here for. If you don't want to do that, don't come!
In all the time that you've been on the show, is there anything that's a real standout moment for you?
We've had kids, we've had weddings, we've had so many pieces of magic. For example, Will and Fran from series eight who got married. When they arrived separately as they do in the First Dates restaurant I thought, oh my god, this was written in the cosmos. These two were supposed to meet.
Has working on First Dates changed your personal opinion on love?
It has reinforced what I already knew. The series has made me even more clear about the fact that love has to come from you first. It's got to be inside you and it's up to you to give it first and generously. It's up to you to be charming first than before the other and I think that if you feel that love, you've got to give it and it feels good. Love is the answer. There's no two ways about it.
There are a few changes to this series. Could you tell us about them?
We have new staff members, really cool people who've really integrated within the team very quickly. They were fun to work with and very professional. But the main change is that we were in Bath - all that history and all that good energy there. The vibe was incredible, I can't tell you how incredible it was. I really loved it and to be reunited with Francesca was lovely.