17/04/2017 The One Show

Got a bit stuck. The Welcome to The One with Matt Baker and. Michelle

Ackerley. Tonight we are joined by First Dates marers are Dee Fred. Can

he work his magic on the toughest of northern women. Love is like a gift.

I grew up around fellas like you. Maybe you weren't ready when you

were younger. Is that meant to be funny? It may be what you always

wanted. Clear off, will you? Welcome Brenda Blethyn and Fred Sirieix.

Wonderful. Is is your first meeting, technically it is your first date.

Yes. We were meant to meet. We thought we would get the mood right,

dim the lights. He was moved by Vera. We will make room for this.

How romantic. Do you want some wine? The whole idea is we want to help

our viewers who might be going out on their first dates, where do you

start, Fred? Well I think Vera is such a beautiful smile, such

engaging eye contact. I cannot evade her gaze. I will be drowning myself

in her eyes. Smooth talker. Is that working for you? Yeah! Do you turn

up with that planned lingo? No, I don't think you would. I would just

come up and see what is in front of you and act accordingly. It is about

that chemistry, if it is somebody you like and you fancy, it will come

easy. If you don't fancy the person it might be difficult. What would

you do then? Ooh! If I fancied you? You met somebody and you were not

attracted to them at all. Would you... Fib? No I think you have a

conversation and just be honest and just have a conversation that you

have with somebody in the tube maybe. Just enjoy the food. That is

it. You should go for tapas and you can have two or three and if it is

not working, you can say, thank you. Get out quick. Did you get all that?

We are going to talking to you more later. The new series of Vera and

First Dates. We have the company of a TV detective. We want to see your

photos of your chocolate. Send them to our incident room and we will

look at the guilty parties later. Brenda, you're a fan of dogs, but

how many would you be prepared to take for walk at once? Four. Four?

Good number. If you live in Gosport in Hampshire the council is going to

put dog owners on a tighter leash. Oh, there is nothing better than a

nice sunny day and a walk with the dogs. Come on you. This way. Taking

this many for a walk is a bit tricky. Perhaps five dogs is a bit

much. But how many should you be allowed to walk at the same time.

Slow down. Two. Up to six. Four or five the chances are you won't hold

them back. I think four dog is enough. It depends on where you

live, Belfast is four. Edinburgh is eight. Some have no limits.

Nationwide politicians discuss this subject and on the south coast the

debate has been hotting up. Here in Gosport, the council decided to

limit dog walkers to no more than four dogs. So I'm off to see a man

about a dog! The rules state six, so why the change? Councillor Mark Hook

is one of top dogs here? It is important that we strike the balance

between dog walkers and the general public who use the open spaces. We

have incidents where half a dozen dogs have gone out and a gentleman

was attacked by a dog, because they couldn't be controlled. We believe

that four is the right number. The new ruling will affect some people

more than others. Particularly professional dog walkers who often

walk large groups of dogs. Alison is a local walker and prefers to only

take four out at a time. Does that mean even you think that four is the

maximum? I think it depends on the person in charge and the dogs

they're looking after. If I had two of mine, three fold, that I field

comfortable with six of them. If you're picking up dogs you don't

know well, it can be a bit more difficult. For some people, the

ruling is long over due. Suzanne has a Labradoodle and thinks owners

should respect others. You have to take a view of what suits the

majority of people. This is a country park, not a dog park.

Keeping eyes on four to make sure you pick up after them if they poop

is impossible. You have had bad experiences. Yes a dog tried to

mount Maisie. The owner said the dog had been neutered but it mattered,

she got nervous with a big group of dogs. A big group can be

intimidating, something Sue knows, but she is conscious and keeps her

five huskies under control. Huskies have a high drive and we don't tend

to let them off the lead. I have them attacked to me the whole walk.

Being considerate to others, Sue has got up early to walk her dogs, when

this less chance of meeting other dogs. But the ruling will impact on

their routine. She will need to schedule twice the amount of walks.

It will affect the dynamics of the pack, because they like to be walked

together. But if I have got to do it, I have got to do it. Josie owns

five dogs and feels it is the size of the dog that matters. I think

four big dogs is plenty to be able to manage them. With a smaller dog,

it's easier. However Josie has come up with what could be a legal

loophole. You are only taking four? Yes that's right. The new ruling

comes into effect in May and will be looked at again in three years time.

So for now, those who oppose it just like the dogs, have had their day. I

wonder if she rotates the dogs into the pram. They do that in France.

Where? Dogs in bags. You go to places I don't go to. I have

definitely seen it. But Brenda, we fell in love with your dog, Jack. .

Isn't he gorgeous. The Cockapoo. Look at him there. How is he getting

on with his obedience? Well, he is on stage one, silver medal. He has

passed. I showed him his certificate and he ate it! You got Jack, you

were away filming Vera. It is nice company for your husband. Yes, I'm

away five months of year and I got company. Maybe he had company for

all I know! But he loves him. It is series 7 that is on DVD now. Seven

series. We start No 8 in June. What is the secret to its success? I

don't know. I think it has been the writing is always good. The

storiline is always good and the casting is good. I think series

stands or falls on the guests. They know the main characters. But it is

the guests that make it very interesting. But Vera as herself, as

a character, we have got a moment here. She is with our direct

talking. He has a boat and get forensics on the case. Whatever was

going on between the sisters, he was right in the middle. And can you

keep off that thing. While we are interviewing the bereaved. My wife

is having a hard time with Max. He is not sleeping. Going to see Tony.

You with wrat for that trawler. And give your wife a hand when you get

home. I have offered to cook cheesy pasta. Someone call Master Chef. You

have been described as an old friend. You like working with the

writers to make the script, make sure it is on points. I have been

with it for ten years. They're familiar with the character and the

history of the character. If there is a anomaly in the way it has been

written with new writers, I throw off an e-mail and... Explain why

that has to be changed. Everyone's always, we are always working

together. If you're talking about series 8, are you actually involved

in that as we speak? No. I'm waiting for the first script to come off the

printing line. Just to see what is going on. But then I have got a

month or six weeks to scrutinise it and see if there is anything. You

must be intrigued with the who who done it thing. Yes they're so well

written that I'm kept guessing to the end. I'm not one of those people

who goes to the last page. I want the... Experience. Makes sense. You

have your Northumbrian accent. We thought therefew words you can say,

anyone can say. I wonder. Go on. Kawasaki. Go on. You were doing it

well. Kawasaki. Good. Better than mine. Cincinatti. Cincinatti.

Cincinatti. Cincinatti. Cincinatti. Cincinatti. And conjunctivitis.

Jung. That will do. Thank you both. Listen. Like all good detectives

from Poirot Columbo, with we don't know their bhabg story. -- back

story. You have created a background and we have some questions. How does

she let her hair down She likes a drink. She likes to walk along the

beach. She likes that solitude and the beauty of the landscapes. Vera's

top pet hate? Noisy eaters. Vera's favourite TV programme. She doesn't

watch. She doesn't watch First Dates? If she had to date a famous

detective who would it be. Has Leonardo played a detective? He will

do. If we can have that written in. Here is one case I'm sure Vera would

love to crack, the incident of oversized bunny in Bournemouth. It

is morning and we thought we could give the residentses a surprise for

when they wake up - an Easter egg hunts. The houses mean I will need

help hiding the eggs. The team have got me the best assistants ever. The

master at hiding eggs. We should have these eggs hidden in no time.

We are posting these pamphlets so the residents know it's to get

hunting. With all of those hidden, it's time to wait and see who is

ready to go searching. How important is Easter to you? It's about

spending time with family. There is the chocolate that the children

like. ... I can tell, we can hear them! Any particularly good Easter

memories? The day that I ate all of my chocolate eggs in one morning.

How many did you get? Seven. And one for mum! What is your favourite

Easter memory? One I was younger, the Easter bunny would hide them

around our house and my sister would always take more than I would. So

greedy and grumpy. How important is Easter to you guys as a family? I

love it, especially those two. Is she going to get to eat all of

these? I'll let her. So you will not be fighting over them? They loved it

when we went Easter road because they were excited about the Easter

bunny and we've been here two or three years and every year they are

happy because the Easter bunny comes. What do you like most about

Easter? Spending time with my family, and eating chocolate. Is its

most leading an Easter road? It's lovely! -- is it nice living on

Easter road. And what a lovely garden you have as well. Did you

trample on the garden, bunny? Fred, you are looking confused. Do

you have many Easter egg hunts in France? How many eggs make up a

French Easter egg hunt? 24. I made that up. One egg was un oeuf.

LAUGHTER . Vera -- Fred is back with your new

series tomorrow. A never ending line-up for people on their first

date. It was what is on the menu. Here is the First Dates restaurant.

This is a limbed G. A place where eyes meet. Hello Mr wee man.

Passions ignite, and Cupid's arrow hits its mark. If we are going to

get thrown out of a restaurant, let's do it together. I was about to

say I was ready for bed but you might misconstrue that.

APPLAUSE Just explain to Brenda what your

role is and how you started doing this.

I am the maitre d' of the First Dates restaurant so I am there to

run the restaurant and create an atmosphere for the daters .com and

the dates to go to plan. The people who come are all single and they

have been match made by the team. When they come, you can't get to

matchmaking and what we do. We met people used on their likes and

dislikes but, a lot of experience we have had matchmaking and observing

people on their first date. If it's not going to work, it's because it's

not meant to be. The vision is simple, the vision of a first date

restaurant, create a lifelong memory and a haven for love to blossom. We

are responsible bringing them together on the first date but

beyond that their life is up to them and it's up to them to go and do

whatever they want to. Have any of them really blossomed? Yes, Adam and

Dan are getting married in South Africa. We are going to have a baby,

the joke is that it's going to be called Fred, but I don't know if

that's true. Watching it, you give out some really romantic pearls of

wisdom. In your normal life, are you as romantic as we see on the TV? No,

I don't think anybody is as romantic as they want to be. Romantic is

being thoughtful and thinking about another person, but it's not just

about a friend or business acquaintance, somebody that you are

a partner with, that you have an intimate, romantic relationship

with. Do we think about others as much as we should? I think we don't.

I have to work on it and think about people more. This is something we

all have to do. It shouldn't just be for that romantic person that we are

having a relationship with. Sometimes it gets a bit awkward but

I feel sorry for this guy, cause I think he was really trying to

complete her and it all went a bit wrong. I like your style, too. It's

interesting... It's good. My style? It works. Nice brown thing. Brown

thing? It's not a cardigan. No, it's... Poncho? It's not a poncho.

It's sort of like a poncho. Let's go with that.

LAUGHTER He did great!

Obviously the cameras are in there, Fred. You are obviously very

passionate about this, trying to matchmaker and whatever. How much of

it do you think people are playing up to the cameras and how much are

they focused on finding love? I think they come in and they aren't

nervous but they are more nervous about being on the first date. For

them, a big ask. -- they are nervous that a lot of them are a lot of fear

and doubt that they have to make do to come to the restaurant so it is a

great act of courage. A lot of people have had no relationships the

years. They are afraid to get back on the horse. We just need to give

them a bit of love and confidence and say, come on, you can do it.

After two, three, four, five minutes, the camera disappears and

they don't think about it but anyway, is discrete, not like the

big things you have here. They are small ones. First Dates returns to

Channel 4 tomorrow night at 10pm. In a world dominated by dating apps

like OK Cupid and Tinder you would be forgiven for thinking that Fred's

style of matchmaking is a dying art but, with more single people in the

country than ever before, maybe good old-fashioned face-to-face flirting

still has its place. Here is Angellica.

This is an Asian marriage introduction service based in

Southall. This is a wall of photos some dating back quite a few years.

This is the owner and main matchmaker. The ultimate goal of

Suman marriage bureau is to bring people together with a view to

spending their life together. They're almost 1000 clients on the

database, each paying between ?325 and for different subscription

packages. One of his clients is Bina Patel, an entrepreneur from London

who has come to register. You are single, 31 and looking to find a

partner. Yes. We are a marriage bureau rather than a dating agency.

Initially, we have an application form, a bit about your family

background and details as to what kind of partner you are looking for.

And we guarantee a minimum of six introductions, if needed. The one

thing we don't burn -- condone is the use of photos and texting. We

find that people who want to do window shopping take a much longer

to do their partners. -- defined their partners. Our principle is,

talk to the person, arranged to meet and see where you go. He is a

second-generation matchmaker. His mother started the bureau back in

1972. I was seven years old, suit and tie, standing there with my dad.

Over the years, he and his family have matched over 8000 people.

Today, he works with his life -- with his wife, Asha. We met at the

front door and two years later we are married. We have now been

married for 18 years so it works! There are files, divided into men

and women and according to religion, so we have Sikh, Hindu, agility and

English. It goes into education, family background, and it provides a

much stronger background. We will see you on Friday. We can't find a

match for everyone. We pride ourselves in that we will give

honest and real advice. If somebody is overweight, I will say, with all

due respect, you need to do something about this because guys

and girls want somebody who is in good shape. This site, we have thank

you letters and invitations. This invitation was a 44-year-old

divorced gentleman, well-educated, good family background, registered

in April and they got married on the 21st of August. It's nice to receive

a recognition that we did it for them, nice and heart-warming.

Despite the rise in online dating, he believes his method works better

in the long run. The view that I have an online dating and apps is

that, yes, they work to a and they are convenient, but I feel that the

prime source of attraction is physical and it's something that

over time can fade away more quickly. -- they work to a degree.

After giving online dating a try, Bina hopes this will be more

successful. Her best friend helps get ready for the first

introduction. I like the idea of it. I prefer it. When I initially sat

down in front of him, obviously you can't list everything. If he has

found even five of those qualities, I'd be happy to spend the rest of my

life with this person. I'm excited. I'm excited for you. It's two weeks

since her first meeting at the marriage bureau and they found a

match. Today finally arrived. I'm a bit nervous. He invites both clients

into the office for the introduction. Hopefully, fingers

crossed. After half an hour, it's time to find out whether the match

was a success. How are you getting on? Good, he's talked it I liked

that. He asked a lot of questions. The next step is we will wait and

see what the young man has to say and, if he comes back with a

positive response, will exchange the phone numbers and then let Cupid

takeover. And Bina is here. We are dying to know how you got on and did

love blossom at all? Not with the first one, but they have found me

another match and hopefully I'm going to be meeting him later this

week. What is the plan, where you meeting? We spoke briefly before I

went on my business venture to India so I only arrived a couple of days

ago so hopefully I will speak to him later this week and will meet at a

local coffee shop, hopefully. We're not going to bring him in! What is

it about this? It's more of an old-fashioned dating, matchmaking

service. What appeals to you about doing it this way round? Originally

I was a bit nervous about joining up with the marriage bureau but, when I

went there and spoke to them, it was something interesting. It's very

traditional in our culture to do that. My mum and dad's era would

have done it that way. There is no photo. They just take your hobbies,

your interests, the type of person you are looking for a soul mate and

they try and match that to your profile, then they sent

introductions and we take it from there. But we don't get to see the

person before we meet. ... Listen, we wish you all the very best with

it. Keep smiling, whatever. You have a lovely smile. And give all of the

photos of all of your Easter egg hunts. This is Shannon in her Easter

bonnet. Thank you for that. This is eight-month old Frank and Louisa,

enjoying her first chocolate bunny. This is all of the Easter eggs, and

Jenna on her first ever Easter egg hunt. Just look at the face! I

remember it well. So happy! We have had loads. That's it for tonight. We

have another one. Archie, seven years old. And seven eggs! Thank you

to our guests, Brenda Blethyn and Fred Sirieix. Vera is out on DVD now

and First Dates returns on Thursday. Tomorrow, nick knows will be here to

tell us about his latest challenge, by royal appointment. -- nick knows.

Ten people affected by mental health issues,

You're convinced it can help? Most definitely.

I feel I'm not going to be able to do it.

..joined by some special guests... You're the heroes.

..on a journey that's not just about crossing the finishing line.