:00:18. > :00:31.Got a bit stuck. The Welcome to The One with Matt Baker and. Michelle
:00:32. > :00:37.Ackerley. Tonight we are joined by First Dates marers are Dee Fred. Can
:00:38. > :00:45.he work his magic on the toughest of northern women. Love is like a gift.
:00:46. > :00:51.I grew up around fellas like you. Maybe you weren't ready when you
:00:52. > :00:58.were younger. Is that meant to be funny? It may be what you always
:00:59. > :01:08.wanted. Clear off, will you? Welcome Brenda Blethyn and Fred Sirieix.
:01:09. > :01:16.Wonderful. Is is your first meeting, technically it is your first date.
:01:17. > :01:21.Yes. We were meant to meet. We thought we would get the mood right,
:01:22. > :01:30.dim the lights. He was moved by Vera. We will make room for this.
:01:31. > :01:34.How romantic. Do you want some wine? The whole idea is we want to help
:01:35. > :01:42.our viewers who might be going out on their first dates, where do you
:01:43. > :01:47.start, Fred? Well I think Vera is such a beautiful smile, such
:01:48. > :01:53.engaging eye contact. I cannot evade her gaze. I will be drowning myself
:01:54. > :02:01.in her eyes. Smooth talker. Is that working for you? Yeah! Do you turn
:02:02. > :02:06.up with that planned lingo? No, I don't think you would. I would just
:02:07. > :02:10.come up and see what is in front of you and act accordingly. It is about
:02:11. > :02:16.that chemistry, if it is somebody you like and you fancy, it will come
:02:17. > :02:25.easy. If you don't fancy the person it might be difficult. What would
:02:26. > :02:28.you do then? Ooh! If I fancied you? You met somebody and you were not
:02:29. > :02:35.attracted to them at all. Would you... Fib? No I think you have a
:02:36. > :02:38.conversation and just be honest and just have a conversation that you
:02:39. > :02:45.have with somebody in the tube maybe. Just enjoy the food. That is
:02:46. > :02:49.it. You should go for tapas and you can have two or three and if it is
:02:50. > :02:57.not working, you can say, thank you. Get out quick. Did you get all that?
:02:58. > :03:12.We are going to talking to you more later. The new series of Vera and
:03:13. > :03:20.First Dates. We have the company of a TV detective. We want to see your
:03:21. > :03:25.photos of your chocolate. Send them to our incident room and we will
:03:26. > :03:29.look at the guilty parties later. Brenda, you're a fan of dogs, but
:03:30. > :03:36.how many would you be prepared to take for walk at once? Four. Four?
:03:37. > :03:43.Good number. If you live in Gosport in Hampshire the council is going to
:03:44. > :03:46.put dog owners on a tighter leash. Oh, there is nothing better than a
:03:47. > :03:54.nice sunny day and a walk with the dogs. Come on you. This way. Taking
:03:55. > :04:02.this many for a walk is a bit tricky. Perhaps five dogs is a bit
:04:03. > :04:10.much. But how many should you be allowed to walk at the same time.
:04:11. > :04:18.Slow down. Two. Up to six. Four or five the chances are you won't hold
:04:19. > :04:25.them back. I think four dog is enough. It depends on where you
:04:26. > :04:32.live, Belfast is four. Edinburgh is eight. Some have no limits.
:04:33. > :04:37.Nationwide politicians discuss this subject and on the south coast the
:04:38. > :04:42.debate has been hotting up. Here in Gosport, the council decided to
:04:43. > :04:50.limit dog walkers to no more than four dogs. So I'm off to see a man
:04:51. > :04:55.about a dog! The rules state six, so why the change? Councillor Mark Hook
:04:56. > :04:59.is one of top dogs here? It is important that we strike the balance
:05:00. > :05:05.between dog walkers and the general public who use the open spaces. We
:05:06. > :05:10.have incidents where half a dozen dogs have gone out and a gentleman
:05:11. > :05:14.was attacked by a dog, because they couldn't be controlled. We believe
:05:15. > :05:18.that four is the right number. The new ruling will affect some people
:05:19. > :05:23.more than others. Particularly professional dog walkers who often
:05:24. > :05:28.walk large groups of dogs. Alison is a local walker and prefers to only
:05:29. > :05:33.take four out at a time. Does that mean even you think that four is the
:05:34. > :05:38.maximum? I think it depends on the person in charge and the dogs
:05:39. > :05:43.they're looking after. If I had two of mine, three fold, that I field
:05:44. > :05:46.comfortable with six of them. If you're picking up dogs you don't
:05:47. > :05:56.know well, it can be a bit more difficult. For some people, the
:05:57. > :06:01.ruling is long over due. Suzanne has a Labradoodle and thinks owners
:06:02. > :06:04.should respect others. You have to take a view of what suits the
:06:05. > :06:09.majority of people. This is a country park, not a dog park.
:06:10. > :06:18.Keeping eyes on four to make sure you pick up after them if they poop
:06:19. > :06:31.is impossible. You have had bad experiences. Yes a dog tried to
:06:32. > :06:37.mount Maisie. The owner said the dog had been neutered but it mattered,
:06:38. > :06:42.she got nervous with a big group of dogs. A big group can be
:06:43. > :06:51.intimidating, something Sue knows, but she is conscious and keeps her
:06:52. > :06:56.five huskies under control. Huskies have a high drive and we don't tend
:06:57. > :07:01.to let them off the lead. I have them attacked to me the whole walk.
:07:02. > :07:05.Being considerate to others, Sue has got up early to walk her dogs, when
:07:06. > :07:14.this less chance of meeting other dogs. But the ruling will impact on
:07:15. > :07:19.their routine. She will need to schedule twice the amount of walks.
:07:20. > :07:22.It will affect the dynamics of the pack, because they like to be walked
:07:23. > :07:29.together. But if I have got to do it, I have got to do it. Josie owns
:07:30. > :07:36.five dogs and feels it is the size of the dog that matters. I think
:07:37. > :07:43.four big dogs is plenty to be able to manage them. With a smaller dog,
:07:44. > :07:53.it's easier. However Josie has come up with what could be a legal
:07:54. > :07:57.loophole. You are only taking four? Yes that's right. The new ruling
:07:58. > :08:02.comes into effect in May and will be looked at again in three years time.
:08:03. > :08:11.So for now, those who oppose it just like the dogs, have had their day. I
:08:12. > :08:19.wonder if she rotates the dogs into the pram. They do that in France.
:08:20. > :08:24.Where? Dogs in bags. You go to places I don't go to. I have
:08:25. > :08:32.definitely seen it. But Brenda, we fell in love with your dog, Jack. .
:08:33. > :08:38.Isn't he gorgeous. The Cockapoo. Look at him there. How is he getting
:08:39. > :08:45.on with his obedience? Well, he is on stage one, silver medal. He has
:08:46. > :08:54.passed. I showed him his certificate and he ate it! You got Jack, you
:08:55. > :08:58.were away filming Vera. It is nice company for your husband. Yes, I'm
:08:59. > :09:07.away five months of year and I got company. Maybe he had company for
:09:08. > :09:16.all I know! But he loves him. It is series 7 that is on DVD now. Seven
:09:17. > :09:22.series. We start No 8 in June. What is the secret to its success? I
:09:23. > :09:27.don't know. I think it has been the writing is always good. The
:09:28. > :09:33.storiline is always good and the casting is good. I think series
:09:34. > :09:39.stands or falls on the guests. They know the main characters. But it is
:09:40. > :09:45.the guests that make it very interesting. But Vera as herself, as
:09:46. > :09:55.a character, we have got a moment here. She is with our direct
:09:56. > :09:58.talking. He has a boat and get forensics on the case. Whatever was
:09:59. > :10:04.going on between the sisters, he was right in the middle. And can you
:10:05. > :10:09.keep off that thing. While we are interviewing the bereaved. My wife
:10:10. > :10:16.is having a hard time with Max. He is not sleeping. Going to see Tony.
:10:17. > :10:23.You with wrat for that trawler. And give your wife a hand when you get
:10:24. > :10:28.home. I have offered to cook cheesy pasta. Someone call Master Chef. You
:10:29. > :10:32.have been described as an old friend. You like working with the
:10:33. > :10:37.writers to make the script, make sure it is on points. I have been
:10:38. > :10:42.with it for ten years. They're familiar with the character and the
:10:43. > :10:47.history of the character. If there is a anomaly in the way it has been
:10:48. > :10:55.written with new writers, I throw off an e-mail and... Explain why
:10:56. > :10:58.that has to be changed. Everyone's always, we are always working
:10:59. > :11:04.together. If you're talking about series 8, are you actually involved
:11:05. > :11:09.in that as we speak? No. I'm waiting for the first script to come off the
:11:10. > :11:15.printing line. Just to see what is going on. But then I have got a
:11:16. > :11:22.month or six weeks to scrutinise it and see if there is anything. You
:11:23. > :11:27.must be intrigued with the who who done it thing. Yes they're so well
:11:28. > :11:32.written that I'm kept guessing to the end. I'm not one of those people
:11:33. > :11:42.who goes to the last page. I want the... Experience. Makes sense. You
:11:43. > :11:52.have your Northumbrian accent. We thought therefew words you can say,
:11:53. > :12:01.anyone can say. I wonder. Go on. Kawasaki. Go on. You were doing it
:12:02. > :12:14.well. Kawasaki. Good. Better than mine. Cincinatti. Cincinatti.
:12:15. > :12:32.Cincinatti. Cincinatti. Cincinatti. Cincinatti. And conjunctivitis.
:12:33. > :12:45.Jung. That will do. Thank you both. Listen. Like all good detectives
:12:46. > :12:49.from Poirot Columbo, with we don't know their bhabg story. -- back
:12:50. > :12:54.story. You have created a background and we have some questions. How does
:12:55. > :13:00.she let her hair down She likes a drink. She likes to walk along the
:13:01. > :13:11.beach. She likes that solitude and the beauty of the landscapes. Vera's
:13:12. > :13:19.top pet hate? Noisy eaters. Vera's favourite TV programme. She doesn't
:13:20. > :13:26.watch. She doesn't watch First Dates? If she had to date a famous
:13:27. > :13:33.detective who would it be. Has Leonardo played a detective? He will
:13:34. > :13:39.do. If we can have that written in. Here is one case I'm sure Vera would
:13:40. > :13:47.love to crack, the incident of oversized bunny in Bournemouth. It
:13:48. > :13:52.is morning and we thought we could give the residentses a surprise for
:13:53. > :13:58.when they wake up - an Easter egg hunts. The houses mean I will need
:13:59. > :14:05.help hiding the eggs. The team have got me the best assistants ever. The
:14:06. > :14:13.master at hiding eggs. We should have these eggs hidden in no time.
:14:14. > :14:24.We are posting these pamphlets so the residents know it's to get
:14:25. > :14:32.hunting. With all of those hidden, it's time to wait and see who is
:14:33. > :14:36.ready to go searching. How important is Easter to you? It's about
:14:37. > :14:39.spending time with family. There is the chocolate that the children
:14:40. > :14:47.like. ... I can tell, we can hear them! Any particularly good Easter
:14:48. > :14:55.memories? The day that I ate all of my chocolate eggs in one morning.
:14:56. > :15:00.How many did you get? Seven. And one for mum! What is your favourite
:15:01. > :15:05.Easter memory? One I was younger, the Easter bunny would hide them
:15:06. > :15:12.around our house and my sister would always take more than I would. So
:15:13. > :15:19.greedy and grumpy. How important is Easter to you guys as a family? I
:15:20. > :15:25.love it, especially those two. Is she going to get to eat all of
:15:26. > :15:34.these? I'll let her. So you will not be fighting over them? They loved it
:15:35. > :15:38.when we went Easter road because they were excited about the Easter
:15:39. > :15:42.bunny and we've been here two or three years and every year they are
:15:43. > :15:49.happy because the Easter bunny comes. What do you like most about
:15:50. > :15:56.Easter? Spending time with my family, and eating chocolate. Is its
:15:57. > :16:00.most leading an Easter road? It's lovely! -- is it nice living on
:16:01. > :16:05.Easter road. And what a lovely garden you have as well. Did you
:16:06. > :16:11.trample on the garden, bunny? Fred, you are looking confused. Do
:16:12. > :16:21.you have many Easter egg hunts in France? How many eggs make up a
:16:22. > :16:28.French Easter egg hunt? 24. I made that up. One egg was un oeuf.
:16:29. > :16:40.LAUGHTER . Vera -- Fred is back with your new
:16:41. > :16:45.series tomorrow. A never ending line-up for people on their first
:16:46. > :16:53.date. It was what is on the menu. Here is the First Dates restaurant.
:16:54. > :17:03.This is a limbed G. A place where eyes meet. Hello Mr wee man.
:17:04. > :17:07.Passions ignite, and Cupid's arrow hits its mark. If we are going to
:17:08. > :17:12.get thrown out of a restaurant, let's do it together. I was about to
:17:13. > :17:15.say I was ready for bed but you might misconstrue that.
:17:16. > :17:26.APPLAUSE Just explain to Brenda what your
:17:27. > :17:30.role is and how you started doing this.
:17:31. > :17:36.I am the maitre d' of the First Dates restaurant so I am there to
:17:37. > :17:39.run the restaurant and create an atmosphere for the daters .com and
:17:40. > :17:45.the dates to go to plan. The people who come are all single and they
:17:46. > :17:50.have been match made by the team. When they come, you can't get to
:17:51. > :17:55.matchmaking and what we do. We met people used on their likes and
:17:56. > :17:59.dislikes but, a lot of experience we have had matchmaking and observing
:18:00. > :18:03.people on their first date. If it's not going to work, it's because it's
:18:04. > :18:08.not meant to be. The vision is simple, the vision of a first date
:18:09. > :18:11.restaurant, create a lifelong memory and a haven for love to blossom. We
:18:12. > :18:15.are responsible bringing them together on the first date but
:18:16. > :18:19.beyond that their life is up to them and it's up to them to go and do
:18:20. > :18:27.whatever they want to. Have any of them really blossomed? Yes, Adam and
:18:28. > :18:31.Dan are getting married in South Africa. We are going to have a baby,
:18:32. > :18:37.the joke is that it's going to be called Fred, but I don't know if
:18:38. > :18:42.that's true. Watching it, you give out some really romantic pearls of
:18:43. > :18:48.wisdom. In your normal life, are you as romantic as we see on the TV? No,
:18:49. > :18:53.I don't think anybody is as romantic as they want to be. Romantic is
:18:54. > :18:57.being thoughtful and thinking about another person, but it's not just
:18:58. > :19:00.about a friend or business acquaintance, somebody that you are
:19:01. > :19:04.a partner with, that you have an intimate, romantic relationship
:19:05. > :19:08.with. Do we think about others as much as we should? I think we don't.
:19:09. > :19:13.I have to work on it and think about people more. This is something we
:19:14. > :19:20.all have to do. It shouldn't just be for that romantic person that we are
:19:21. > :19:23.having a relationship with. Sometimes it gets a bit awkward but
:19:24. > :19:27.I feel sorry for this guy, cause I think he was really trying to
:19:28. > :19:34.complete her and it all went a bit wrong. I like your style, too. It's
:19:35. > :19:45.interesting... It's good. My style? It works. Nice brown thing. Brown
:19:46. > :19:54.thing? It's not a cardigan. No, it's... Poncho? It's not a poncho.
:19:55. > :19:59.It's sort of like a poncho. Let's go with that.
:20:00. > :20:03.LAUGHTER He did great!
:20:04. > :20:08.Obviously the cameras are in there, Fred. You are obviously very
:20:09. > :20:12.passionate about this, trying to matchmaker and whatever. How much of
:20:13. > :20:16.it do you think people are playing up to the cameras and how much are
:20:17. > :20:20.they focused on finding love? I think they come in and they aren't
:20:21. > :20:25.nervous but they are more nervous about being on the first date. For
:20:26. > :20:31.them, a big ask. -- they are nervous that a lot of them are a lot of fear
:20:32. > :20:35.and doubt that they have to make do to come to the restaurant so it is a
:20:36. > :20:39.great act of courage. A lot of people have had no relationships the
:20:40. > :20:43.years. They are afraid to get back on the horse. We just need to give
:20:44. > :20:49.them a bit of love and confidence and say, come on, you can do it.
:20:50. > :20:53.After two, three, four, five minutes, the camera disappears and
:20:54. > :20:55.they don't think about it but anyway, is discrete, not like the
:20:56. > :21:02.big things you have here. They are small ones. First Dates returns to
:21:03. > :21:07.Channel 4 tomorrow night at 10pm. In a world dominated by dating apps
:21:08. > :21:12.like OK Cupid and Tinder you would be forgiven for thinking that Fred's
:21:13. > :21:17.style of matchmaking is a dying art but, with more single people in the
:21:18. > :21:19.country than ever before, maybe good old-fashioned face-to-face flirting
:21:20. > :21:29.still has its place. Here is Angellica.
:21:30. > :21:32.This is an Asian marriage introduction service based in
:21:33. > :21:35.Southall. This is a wall of photos some dating back quite a few years.
:21:36. > :21:42.This is the owner and main matchmaker. The ultimate goal of
:21:43. > :21:46.Suman marriage bureau is to bring people together with a view to
:21:47. > :21:53.spending their life together. They're almost 1000 clients on the
:21:54. > :22:02.database, each paying between ?325 and for different subscription
:22:03. > :22:06.packages. One of his clients is Bina Patel, an entrepreneur from London
:22:07. > :22:12.who has come to register. You are single, 31 and looking to find a
:22:13. > :22:17.partner. Yes. We are a marriage bureau rather than a dating agency.
:22:18. > :22:20.Initially, we have an application form, a bit about your family
:22:21. > :22:26.background and details as to what kind of partner you are looking for.
:22:27. > :22:30.And we guarantee a minimum of six introductions, if needed. The one
:22:31. > :22:34.thing we don't burn -- condone is the use of photos and texting. We
:22:35. > :22:37.find that people who want to do window shopping take a much longer
:22:38. > :22:42.to do their partners. -- defined their partners. Our principle is,
:22:43. > :22:48.talk to the person, arranged to meet and see where you go. He is a
:22:49. > :22:55.second-generation matchmaker. His mother started the bureau back in
:22:56. > :23:00.1972. I was seven years old, suit and tie, standing there with my dad.
:23:01. > :23:05.Over the years, he and his family have matched over 8000 people.
:23:06. > :23:12.Today, he works with his life -- with his wife, Asha. We met at the
:23:13. > :23:18.front door and two years later we are married. We have now been
:23:19. > :23:20.married for 18 years so it works! There are files, divided into men
:23:21. > :23:32.and women and according to religion, so we have Sikh, Hindu, agility and
:23:33. > :23:37.English. It goes into education, family background, and it provides a
:23:38. > :23:41.much stronger background. We will see you on Friday. We can't find a
:23:42. > :23:46.match for everyone. We pride ourselves in that we will give
:23:47. > :23:49.honest and real advice. If somebody is overweight, I will say, with all
:23:50. > :23:53.due respect, you need to do something about this because guys
:23:54. > :24:02.and girls want somebody who is in good shape. This site, we have thank
:24:03. > :24:03.you letters and invitations. This invitation was a 44-year-old
:24:04. > :24:10.divorced gentleman, well-educated, good family background, registered
:24:11. > :24:16.in April and they got married on the 21st of August. It's nice to receive
:24:17. > :24:19.a recognition that we did it for them, nice and heart-warming.
:24:20. > :24:25.Despite the rise in online dating, he believes his method works better
:24:26. > :24:29.in the long run. The view that I have an online dating and apps is
:24:30. > :24:35.that, yes, they work to a and they are convenient, but I feel that the
:24:36. > :24:39.prime source of attraction is physical and it's something that
:24:40. > :24:45.over time can fade away more quickly. -- they work to a degree.
:24:46. > :24:48.After giving online dating a try, Bina hopes this will be more
:24:49. > :24:55.successful. Her best friend helps get ready for the first
:24:56. > :25:01.introduction. I like the idea of it. I prefer it. When I initially sat
:25:02. > :25:06.down in front of him, obviously you can't list everything. If he has
:25:07. > :25:12.found even five of those qualities, I'd be happy to spend the rest of my
:25:13. > :25:17.life with this person. I'm excited. I'm excited for you. It's two weeks
:25:18. > :25:21.since her first meeting at the marriage bureau and they found a
:25:22. > :25:29.match. Today finally arrived. I'm a bit nervous. He invites both clients
:25:30. > :25:38.into the office for the introduction. Hopefully, fingers
:25:39. > :25:43.crossed. After half an hour, it's time to find out whether the match
:25:44. > :25:54.was a success. How are you getting on? Good, he's talked it I liked
:25:55. > :25:58.that. He asked a lot of questions. The next step is we will wait and
:25:59. > :26:03.see what the young man has to say and, if he comes back with a
:26:04. > :26:08.positive response, will exchange the phone numbers and then let Cupid
:26:09. > :26:14.takeover. And Bina is here. We are dying to know how you got on and did
:26:15. > :26:18.love blossom at all? Not with the first one, but they have found me
:26:19. > :26:21.another match and hopefully I'm going to be meeting him later this
:26:22. > :26:29.week. What is the plan, where you meeting? We spoke briefly before I
:26:30. > :26:33.went on my business venture to India so I only arrived a couple of days
:26:34. > :26:42.ago so hopefully I will speak to him later this week and will meet at a
:26:43. > :26:51.local coffee shop, hopefully. We're not going to bring him in! What is
:26:52. > :26:53.it about this? It's more of an old-fashioned dating, matchmaking
:26:54. > :27:00.service. What appeals to you about doing it this way round? Originally
:27:01. > :27:03.I was a bit nervous about joining up with the marriage bureau but, when I
:27:04. > :27:07.went there and spoke to them, it was something interesting. It's very
:27:08. > :27:12.traditional in our culture to do that. My mum and dad's era would
:27:13. > :27:18.have done it that way. There is no photo. They just take your hobbies,
:27:19. > :27:21.your interests, the type of person you are looking for a soul mate and
:27:22. > :27:24.they try and match that to your profile, then they sent
:27:25. > :27:30.introductions and we take it from there. But we don't get to see the
:27:31. > :27:34.person before we meet. ... Listen, we wish you all the very best with
:27:35. > :27:39.it. Keep smiling, whatever. You have a lovely smile. And give all of the
:27:40. > :27:45.photos of all of your Easter egg hunts. This is Shannon in her Easter
:27:46. > :27:53.bonnet. Thank you for that. This is eight-month old Frank and Louisa,
:27:54. > :27:57.enjoying her first chocolate bunny. This is all of the Easter eggs, and
:27:58. > :28:03.Jenna on her first ever Easter egg hunt. Just look at the face! I
:28:04. > :28:12.remember it well. So happy! We have had loads. That's it for tonight. We
:28:13. > :28:17.have another one. Archie, seven years old. And seven eggs! Thank you
:28:18. > :28:25.to our guests, Brenda Blethyn and Fred Sirieix. Vera is out on DVD now
:28:26. > :28:30.and First Dates returns on Thursday. Tomorrow, nick knows will be here to
:28:31. > :28:33.tell us about his latest challenge, by royal appointment. -- nick knows.
:28:34. > :28:35.Ten people affected by mental health issues,
:28:36. > :28:41.You're convinced it can help? Most definitely.
:28:42. > :28:42.I feel I'm not going to be able to do it.
:28:43. > :28:45...joined by some special guests... You're the heroes.
:28:46. > :28:49...on a journey that's not just about crossing the finishing line.