3 hours ago
10
Joe on Jade
What were you hoping for?
Human connection outside an algorithm – good conversation and a fun anecdote.
First impressions?
Jade was friendly and the conversation flowed easily from the get-go.
What did you talk about?
Favourite Doctor Who episodes (The Girl in the Fireplace, obviously). The joys of London in the summer. Favourite gig venues. The need for the transatlantic accent to return.
Most awkward moment?
A slight disagreement about whether the BT Tower is evil – I begged to differ.
Good table manners?
Impeccable from my end.
Best thing about Jade?
She has a clear sense of what she wants in life. And excellent chat.
Would you introduce Jade to your friends?
Sure thing.
Fancy a blind date?
ShowBlind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.
What questions will I be asked?
We
ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of
person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions
cover everything you would like to know, tell us what’s on your mind.
Can I choose who I match with?
No,
it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests,
preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely
to be.
Can I pick the photograph?
No, but don't worry: we'll choose the nicest ones.
What personal details will appear?
Your first name, job and age.
How should I answer?
Honestly
but respectfully. Be mindful of how it will read to your date, and that
Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online.
Will I see the other person’s answers?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details.
Will you find me The One?
We’ll try! Marriage! Babies!
Can I do it in my home town?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere.
How to apply
Email [email protected]
Describe Jade in three words.
Open, enthusiastic, fun.
What do you think Jade made of you?
Probably too many gesticulations, but otherwise, hopefully, normal enough.
Did you go on somewhere?
No, she had an early flight, but we made a pretty good dent in the Guardian’s tab at the restaurant!
And … did you kiss?
No, merely a hug on the Mildmay line on the way home.
If you could change one thing about the date, what would it be?
It was a lovely evening, so no complaints here.
Marks out of 10?
8.
Would you meet again?
We have exchanged numbers!
Jade on Joe
What were you hoping for?
To make a connection with someone and have a good story to tell our future pets.
First impressions?
Cute and well dressed.
What did you talk about?
Books. Family pets. Our favourite parks in London. The housing crisis. The constant yearning to be by the sea when you grew up by the coast. Debating whether it’s better to be a reality TV villain or completely erased from the final cut for being too boring.
Most awkward moment?
We got right into chatting and I wasn’t prepared when they came to take our order – so had to ask for extra time.
Good table manners?
He kept my water glass full and humoured my plan to say cheers with every new drink.
Best thing about Joe?
He was really fun to talk to. We were on the same wavelength on a lot of things, but it was also fun to discuss when we weren’t.
Would you introduce Joe to your friends?
I would.
Describe Joe in three words.
Intelligent, thoughtful, affable.
What do you think Joe made of you?
Probably that I’m very talkative and hold a lot of strong opinions on frivolous matters.
Did you go on somewhere?
I had to catch an early flight the next morning, so we parted ways on the Overground.
And … did you kiss?
Just a hug goodbye.
If you could change one thing about the date, what would it be?
I would have enjoyed staying out a bit later – I doubt it would have made my 5am start the next day much harder.
Marks out of 10?
9.
Would you meet again?
Yeah! We’re in touch about planning our next outing.
Joe and Jade ate at the Bull & Last, London NW5. Fancy a blind date? Email [email protected]
