Episode 5 The Year of Making Love

In January 2012, hundreds of single people joined an ambitious

experiment designed to find out if science can help you find love.

Are you ready to meet your match?

CHEERING

It began with Britain's biggest ever blind date.

How you doing, you all right?

Hello.

How you doing, you all right?

Hello, beautiful. How you doing?

But these were no random introductions.

Each couple was matched by experts

who believe you'll be luckier in love

if you take a scientific approach.

I'm in shock, like, how it's worked.

I just hoped there'd be a bit of chemistry

but there's nothing there, I'm sorry.

I'm happy. Please let him be happy, too, or this is going to be brutal.

I don't want to be nasty, if she's really nice, I'm not wowed.

Yeah, I'm the cat that got the cream. So far so good.

Well done, science.

So, can love be created in a lab?

The brains behind the experiment are Tomas Chamorro-Premusic

and Emma Kenny.

Tomas is a personality profiling expert.

Millions of people are single because they are hooked to

this crazy idea that there is just one perfect person out there.

The reality is that we have several potential good matches

and compatibility tests will help them find them.

Emma is a behavioural psychologist.

We've designed this experiment to prove that science can help

you find love and that by carefully measuring compatibility,

you're a lot more likely to find somebody who's just right for you.

So far, the experts HAVE seen some of the matches falter.

There's nothing there at the moment.

I don't feel like anything can really happen between us.

But for others, their compatibility shone through.

Like Travis and Amanda.

Absolutely amazing. I'm literally on cloud nine right now.

Mel and Chris.

I can definitely see myself with him in the long-term.

And Kirsty and Andrew.

She's an amazing girl. I've never met anyone like her.

Tonight, we'll follow a new set of couples who meet at the launch

and in the weeks that follow.

Done. Wish me luck.

They are compatible on paper

but will their personalities click when they meet?

Ah, I can't be dealing with rejection today.

He came quite fast at me and kind of lunged forward.

Will they fancy each other?

He's got nice teeth and nice eyes, so that's a plus.

So, Nigel bought me flowers.

I mean, what more can a girl ask for?

Will any of them last the whole year?

And will anyone find love?

We ended up kissing a bit as well at the end of the night.

Stewart's really liking it and I heard him

say he might want to come again.

Ah, man, that's a lot of vaginas.

A year ago, hundreds of single guys

and girls from across the UK joined this ambitious experiment.

Each one of them

identified by science as one half of a compatible pair.

And all of them hoping to find love.

Some of the guys are not leaving it all to the experts.

They've got tricks of their own to attract a mate.

OK, well just a simple trick to start with.

The way I like to approach women is the idea that this is

where the fun is. Let me showing you something that's fun.

I decided to go with a gift of jewellery

because I thought it was the better choice.

It's bling and some girls love it and it always...normally works.

I thought I'd write a poem for the person. OK.

'If there's someone there for everyone

'Then what is wrong with me?

'If someone will come when I least expect

'I'll wait impatiently.'

Once everyone's assigned their unique number

it's time for the match-making to begin.

Our first guy looking for love this week has travelled from Wales

and arrived with a long list of requirements.

My name is Karl Whitcombe, I'm 25 and I'm from Cardiff.

And it's Karl with a K, never with a C.

I want someone who cares for themselves, you know.

You don't want him to be over-groomed. I don't want to go out with a bloody show pony.

I don't like smokers, I don't like chavs, eugh, I'm sorry.

One thing I don't mind, but I know people always say they hate it,

they hate people with garlic breath. I actually like garlic breath.

Everyone I meet seems to be either be just like a good...

They seem like they'd be a nice friend or they seem to be the perfect match for my ex-partner.

So, hopefully, today I won't think that.

Both scoring high on sociability,

Karl's been paired with Stewart from London.

-Hello, how are you?

-Hi, you all right?

I'm all right.

Ooh, I actually kind of quite like the chemistry between these guys.

First impressions? Uh...

Yeah, he's good-looking.

Oh, no. I feel like I should have worn a jacket now, oh, God.

-I'm pleasantly surprised.

-Definitely the kind of guy that I go for.

I'm excited now to see what the match is going to be,

whether or not there's anything to it.

Go on, go on, I bet you can do a Welsh accent.

A Welsh accent. Not a very good Welsh accent, I don't think.

Ah, see, that was terrible.

I think he's an attractive guy. Um...

Yeah.

Yeah, I'd like to meet him again.

Oh, no. What if he says no, though?

Ah, I can't be dealing with rejection today.

I've got to drive back to Cardiff, man.

Cheers. He's a really nice guy.

It's going to be interesting trying the...

I guess the long-distance thing but we'll see what happens.

I just can't believe that that's what science picked for me.

Well done, science.

Oh, my God, I wonder if I'll end up having a big gay wedding. Yikes.

-There we go.

-There we go.

In time, Karl and Stewart will find out

if their underlying compatibility leads to romance.

-You look beautiful.

-You look lovely.

In the main hall, under the watchful eye of the experts,

many more promising matches are being made.

Yeah... I reckon.

I'm actually quite surprised how right they got it.

He's just sort of like a boy version of me.

-Hello.

-Look how pretty you are! Hello.

I'll say...I can tell she's disappointed but I'm pleasantly surprised.

It's just a random experience. I'm just so overwhelmed.

I've always believed in fate

but I do think I'll put my trust in science a little bit more after today.

Hoping she gets a great match is a girl with strong religious beliefs.

So will she be convinced by the science of love?

Hey, I'm Crystal.

I'm currently at Roehampton University studying Theology

and Religious Studies.

# ..saved me from death, and showed me... #

I believe that God puts a plan out for everyone.

Since her last boyfriend, Crystal's chosen to abstain from sex

until she's married.

I have decided to be a born-again virgin.

That is because a lot of people my age just want sex and drugs

and drinking and they're not interested in finding something

that's more meaningful and for life.

Hello, Mummy.

Lots of my friends say that I go for really ugly guys,

which is definitely true.

Like, two of the guys I've dated would get drunk all the time,

they'd done loads of drugs and they'd slept with loads of people.

So I don't think they were really my perfect match.

Yeah, but you have to, like, plan for the future.

My plan is that I'll be married by the time I'm 25

so that I'm able to have children by the time I'm 26

and also the guy has to be able to reproduce.

He's got to have some good sperm.

I want to have my little babies!

So will Crystal's match fit in with her life plan?

Both scoring high on drive and ambition,

she's paired with 21-year-old Sean.

Interesting.

He came quite fast at me and kind of lunged forward.

I was a bit like, "Whoa". Nothing like my type.

I'm going to still go with it, see what happens.

When I saw Crystal, I was really happy. She's lovely.

If I like her, I'm certainly going to ask her out.

What would you do on a first date?

I've always been brought up to be a proper gentleman

so always take a lady out, go out to dinner.

It's, erm, going OK.

I think he's a really sweet guy

but I'm just not really feeling anything more.

Um...

Once we started talking, it was like...

I think she's sweet, she's down to earth,

she's my kind of girl, really.

There is definitely something there, I'm not sure what, though,

and I'd love for it to be more than just friendship.

Crystal's not sure about Sean,

but perhaps she'll discover their similarities in time.

You look fantastic, how are you doing?

There are other couples who, on first appearance,

do seem well suited.

Their body posture is identical.

They're both slightly leaning forward,

they're both trying to get into that little bubble of communication.

They have really striking similarities.

Very similar facial features, yes.

They're good.

They look really good together, very smiley.

Yeah, immediate chemistry.

You can see that they're going to take it forward.

But, compatible or not, first introductions are sometimes awkward.

I wanted to kiss him, like...

but he kind of like just went...

But then we held hands cos I think he realised his mistake.

I realised it, I think pretty much everyone realised the mistake.

It was quite vocal, but... We got everyone laughing, so...

Our next single girl is hoping the science of compatibility

will do a better job than she has.

I've been single now, I'd say, for two years.

I've kind of just picked some really, really bad men.

I have been in love before and it's the greatest feeling.

I really do want to find somebody,

I want to share my life with someone, I don't want to be on my own any more

and around here's not really the ideal place to meet someone.

She talks about finding love every week. That's all I ever hear.

Rhea knows what it feels like being in love - she's been engaged before.

Now, this was the one that would be similar to what I first chose

when I was first getting married.

We got engaged when I was 18. It, basically, never happened.

We'd met very young and, um, we kind of grew apart.

This is the longest Rhea's been single and it's been really good for her

because she's managed to do the things she's always wanted to

and needed to do, and so now she's ready.

I think if I just throw it in the hands of someone else

I might have a better chance.

Both scoring high on confidence,

Rhea's match is 27-year-old businessman Dale.

He's really, really, nice, he looks lovely. I think he's very nervous, as was I.

First moment, yeah, she's really pretty and just a nice smile

and seems really genuine.

-So, how old are you then, do you mind me asking?

-No. 27.

-27.

-Yeah. Yourself?

-29.

-You've only been with older guys then or...?

The last long-term relationship, he was ten years older.

I'm an old man for my age anyway. Pipe and slippers.

Slippers and pipe, yeah.

I'm actually pleasantly surprised.

He's got nice teeth and nice eyes, so that's a plus.

He seems like a challenge and I don't think I'd be bored with him.

-How did that end the day before Valentine's?

-I saved some money, didn't I?

She seems like somebody who smiles and laughs a lot

and she doesn't take herself too seriously, which is really good.

Interested to find out more.

So, Rhea and Dale are off to a promising start.

Next up is Man United fan Nigel from Norfolk, a self-confessed romantic.

I brought some flowers with me today.

Hopefully that'll go straight to her heart.

And flowers aren't Nigel's only gift for the lady.

There's either going to be boos from them lot

or she's going to love it or just throw it back in my face, I don't know.

I'm Nigel, I'm 30 and I'm a part-time DJ.

Part of being a DJ, you kind of do get some women coming up to you

and maybe asking for your number and stuff like that.

I've been single since April 2010.

In relationships, I've felt like I have moved quite fast

with some partners.

I know now exactly what I want out of a relationship

and I just want a life partner.

So, could 19-year-old Alyssa, also from Norfolk,

be Nigel's perfect match?

He seems really friendly, really charming.

He bought me some flowers,

I mean, what more can a girl ask for?

First impression, yeah, not too bad.

She said to me that she's never been bought flowers before

so I think I've done well there.

How are you getting back tonight, then?

It's actually really odd, because he's actually from where

I was born and we're both from Norfolk,

which is obviously brilliant for distance-wise.

He seems absolutely wonderful

and there's nothing I could fault him on at the moment.

I'd definitely love to see how it goes.

Yeah, she's lovely, definitely.

It's a good start, but how will Nigel's Man United shirt go down?

This is my beloved team.

Oh, my God!

Oh, thank you.

Thank you very much.

The first day of matchmaking is almost at an end.

Hundreds of single people have put their faith in science.

And some promising pairings have been made.

-What was your number?

-0-7-9...

Are you going to ask her out?

Yeah. Right now.

Crystal...

..would you want to go on a date with me?

-OK.

-Oh, wow. Really? Great.

-Yeah.

Great. I love your bravado.

So, are we going to go on a second date, then?

-For me, yeah, definitely.

-Good.

-We'll meet somewhere in between.

-Yeah. Newport.

-I'm pleased. Science has done me proud.

-I... Ditto.

In the weeks that follow, many more single people take

the compatibility test and meet up with their ideal matches,

filming the results themselves.

In London, 22-year-old Felicity is about to find out

who she's been matched with.

I'm just getting ready for my date, as you can see.

I'm very excited and running a little bit late.

Felicity has a passion for the arts

and is hoping to find a man who'll take care of her.

At the moment I'm a student. I'm studying set design for screen.

I also work at a pub part-time.

My friends would describe me as loud and lively,

fun and a little bit mental sometimes, maybe.

She normally kind of goes for guys that are, like, quite carefree

and really fun, kind of party people.

I'm looking for a guy who's equally passionate about life,

is easy-going and, I suppose, who'll look after me.

Done. Wish me luck. See you.

Felicity's scientific match is James from London.

This is the first blind date I've ever been on

so I'm really excited about it.

I'm sort of wondering what she's going to look like, whether

we're going to get on. Hopefully there's a bit of chemistry there.

Felicity and James have agreed to meet for a quick drink

to suss each other out.

-Hi.

-How's it going?

-Yeah, really good, thank you.

-Good.

Shall we kiss now?

Should we have a drink first maybe?

Cool. Let's maybe have a few drinks.

James couldn't be more different to Felicity.

He's an investment banker who hasn't found much time for love.

I'm an independent person. I mean, I enjoy being single

but I'm always looking for that sort of long-term relationship,

I just haven't found the right person yet.

I don't think I've ever been in love, to be honest,

and if I'm not sure it probably means I haven't.

I'm a bit sceptical about it at times, I think, but, yeah,

I mean I think it's probably out there somewhere.

It would just be nice for him

to meet someone he can have a really decent

long-term relationship with. Someone who's got a bit of oomph.

I'm easy to be around. I think I'm fun and pretty intelligent.

After that first drink, James soon arranged another date...

-Hi.

-Hi.

-You all right?

-How are you doing?

-Good, thank you.

-How are you?

-Yeah, good, thanks.

..at a roller disco.

-Cheers. It's lovely to see you.

-Yeah, you too.

James makes me laugh a lot. Giggly. Yeah, he's a nice guy.

I think in terms of the way the date's going, there's

definitely been some flirting and we'll see how that progresses.

In the pub afterwards, things do progress

when James sneaks a quick kiss.

'I had actually a really, really fun time.'

Ended up kissing a bit as well at the end of the night.

She's very different to the kind of girls I've been out with before

which is, you know, not a bad thing.

We still had loads to talk about, we still got on really well

and I felt there was a bit of a connection there

and James walked me to the bus stop and then waited with me.

We missed about four or five buses.

Got to know each other a bit more

and had a bit of a kiss, which was good.

All in all it was really nice to see him

and I had a really, really good evening.

At the launch of the experiment,

hundreds of people met their scientific match on stage.

I'm going to carry you down the stairs.

Oh, what, are you joking? SHE SCREAMS

When Karl met Stewart, Karl thought he'd found

marriage material.

Oh, my God, I wonder if I'll end up having a big gay wedding.

Um...

Stewart wasn't quite so sure.

Yeah.

And, having slept on it, he decided Karl wasn't the man for him.

Physically, Karl isn't somebody that I would consider to be my type

and I just didn't think, "Yes, this is going to work".

When Rhea met Dale they also seemed to hit it off.

He's got nice teeth and nice eyes, so that's a plus.

Smile and laughs a lot and she doesn't take herself too seriously.

But his work commitments got in the way.

He's got a very, very busy lifestyle.

His job kind of demands him to be away quite a lot

so we haven't really got a chance to see each other.

Then Rhea's nagging doubts began to surface...

I'm probably not his type. I'm not too petite and, if I'm honest,

he needs to be a little bit bigger and, you know,

just someone who doesn't make me feel huge next to them.

..and they also dropped out of the experiment.

When Crystal was matched with Sean,

it was a slightly awkward introduction.

Interesting. He kind of lunged forward.

-I was a bit like "Whoa."

-Sean was smitten.

She's lovely, she's my kind of girl, really.

But Crystal was sceptical.

He's a really sweet guy but I'm just not really feeling anything more.

A few days later, Sean invited Crystal to go sightseeing in London,

followed by dinner.

I have been waiting for Sean for 30 minutes

and he hasn't got in contact at all.

Despite several attempts to contact Sean he remained elusive

and Crystal was left baffled but unscathed by his no-show.

I've been waiting about an hour and I haven't heard anything at all.

There's no second chances with me.

My mum told me that you should act like a princess if you want to

be treated like a princess so I want to be a little princess and

princesses don't get left standing around in the cold for over an hour.

As some couples drop out of the experiment,

another is about to join.

25-year-old Mandy will soon find out who she's been matched with.

I'm a bit nervous. I don't know what else to say.

Mandy's a teaching assistant with a love of art and her pets.

I would say I'm quite quirky. I really love animals.

I have lots of animals that I live with.

I talk to my animals normally every day.

They can hear me and they understand me.

In my free time I do my own art work and some life drawing.

My drawing is mainly ladies, some of them nude, some not.

I have been on quite a few dates this year.

Probably on about 50 different dates with different guys.

My ideal man would be someone that makes me laugh

and treats me really nice.

Someone that's smart but not over too smart cos I'm

not as smart as I ought to be.

Yeah, just waiting. Waiting

Here he comes.

-Hiya. How are you doing?

-Hello.

-You all right?

-Shall we go in and get a drink?

-Yeah, yeah, that's cool.

Mandy's match is Stuart.

-So we're talking about star signs and you're really into them.

-Yes.

-What star sign are you?

-I'm a Pisces.

-And I'm a Gemini.

So you're a bit floaty and a bit dreamy.

I can see that, yeah, in a nice way, kind of pretty chilled out.

Easy-going, I guess.

Stuart works in a phone shop and likes to keep trim

but he's most himself back home on the couch.

I'm a little bit of a movie buff.

I do enjoy watching films whenever I get the chance,

in particular Star Wars. I'm a really big Star Wars fan.

I've got a big Star Wars poster up there,

special edition Star Wars Monopoly still in the pack.

I enjoy a few computer games.

I like a good action game, a first-person shooter.

The longest session I've ever had playing computer games

has probably got to be 16, 18 hours non-stop.

Stuart is hoping to meet someone who will tolerate his obsessions.

Girlfriends in the past,

sometimes they'd get a bit freaked out by how tidy I am.

If the house is a state, I just can't get comfortable,

I can't concentrate properly.

My ideal girl would be someone that keeps relatively fit,

looks after themselves and, not essential, but it would be nice if

they were quite a tidy person as well.

-Let's go down the alleyway.

-Sounds good to me.

Mandy and Stuart's first date is going well

and after a few drinks they head out for a takeaway

and stumble across an unusual piece of artwork.

-We're going to go past the vagina shop.

-The vagina shop?

And we have been talking about sex. Great wall of vagina.

Oh, man, that's a lot of vaginas.

-I wanted my one on there.

-Did you?

-Yeah.

Walk along to the next pub, get some chips

because we're both peckish but not quite ready for a full meal.

They don't want the night to end and it's looking like a great match.

'She seemed really nice, really friendly.'

She was giggling quite a lot and she seemed like she had a really

great, lively personality, which is exactly what I was looking for.

We ended the night with a snog, I think.

Maybe we should stop filming.

It's been three weeks since Felicity and James's first date.

They're meeting again today but not before Felicity shares the goss.

I'm just off to meet Sarah, who is my best, best, best friend,

before I go on to meet James for our next date,

which is we're going skiing.

'Sarah wants to know everything about what's going on,

'I haven't seen her in a little bit, yeah, she keeps pestering me.'

-So, come on, then, tell me everything.

-Yeah, he's lovely.

Actually, I haven't seen a photo of him.

-I don't even know what he looks like.

-He's very tall.

-Have you kissed him yet? You have.

-SHE SQUEALS

-Lots? Or just a bit?

-Yeah.

-Lots?

-Is he a good kisser?

-Yes.

I think she seems really happy at the moment and she gives a lot.

She's a very loving, giving person

so she deserves to have someone that's going to treat her well.

So, are you ready for your date today, then?

I'm going skiing for the first time today. Ever.

You can do that whole falling over into him thing.

She gets a bit nervous of heights so I don't know how she's going to do.

I'm sure James can look after her.

-Yeah, I'm coming this way too, let's go this way.

-OK, cool.

It sounds like this match is beginning to work.

I think it's quite unusual at this stage of a relationship to be

talking so much but it's been good.

I think I like the way that we're just very different,

we kind of come from very different backgrounds and, yeah...

So I'm excited about today.

-Hi. You all right?

-Hey. How's it going?

-Good.

-Have you had a look how high it is?

-No.

-I think it's pretty high.

James has arranged a day on the ski slope,

thinking it'll bring out the real Felicity.

Doing things like this, I think

it's good to put people outside their comfort zone.

I think you get to see people's true colours.

Ow! It's so painful!

It's going to be a long lesson.

I like the clothes. I like the outfit.

Yeah. Do you feel like you've improved a little bit?

I don't know if I'm that...

I just don't know.

I don't know. SHE SCREAMS

I'm pretty sure we'll be going on skiing holidays in the future.

I mean, I don't know if Felicity will be skiing

or will be allowed on the slopes but maybe one day.

'For me it's just about having fun and doing something exciting.

'Hopefully we'll go for some drinks, which will be nice'

and have a proper catch-up.

-I'm such an adrenaline junkie.

-You are. I noticed that.

Felicity is not a natural on the ski slopes

so they move on to more comfortable surroundings.

You know when you get a passion for something?

Do you feel like you've developed a deep, burning passion for it now?

Yeah, I think so.

If I only ever have an instructor with me.

'I don't think the pace is, you know, too fast or too slow.

'It's very different to anything I've ever perhaps been in before,'

you know, we don't have any mutual ground really,

or any mutual friends but it's nice, you know, you need to develop

'a friendship as well really, I think, which is important.'

'We've been on a few dates now, know each other better and so far,'

so good so, yeah, hopefully get another date.

James is about to start a new job

so it's an early night before those all-important goodbyes.

-OK.

-OK, well, I guess I'll call you.

-Yeah.

-And we can do something maybe soon?

-That would be nice.

-OK, cool.

Yeah. Maybe the weekend.

-OK.

-Have a chilled weekend.

-Good luck with your job.

-OK, cool. Cheers.

-See you, love. Bye.

Things are also moving forward for Mandy and Stuart.

Since their first date, they've seen each other a couple of times

and their personalities do seem well matched.

-So you like Twilight then, do you?

-Yeah, of course. I'm a girl!

You're a girl, of course. Silly me.

I have to say, it's never really interested me all that much.

-Have you even seen it?

-No.

-Right, that's one thing we've got to do.

-That's a bit...

-All of them in one go.

-We have to watch them?

Yeah, and I'll watch Star Wars.

There are also some early signs of chemistry.

-You all right?

-No!

It's OK, it's OK. Remember what I said. Keep your knees bent.

We're holding hands and stuff, yeah, it's all going good.

'Yeah, we're still flirting,'

a little cheeky snog here and there, you know.

It's all good, it's all good.

Worst case scenario, I can pick you up

and carry you rather than you having to stop.

'It's moving at a nice speed, I'd say.

'From previous guys I've dated, they go too fast

'and they end too quickly so hopefully this will last long.'

There we go. Yeah, see? Easy peasy.

'We're getting on really, really well so far.

'We're still having a good laugh together.

'There's definitely a little bit of something there.'

In fact, I think the closer we get,

the more we do flirt, really, which is great.

Right, I do believe these belong to you, mademoiselle.

Yeah, unless you want to wear them.

I think they're my colour, but I don't think I can pull them

off quite as well as you can, somehow.

It's good pizza.

Back at Stuart's place, it's pizza for two and a scary movie.

-Put it on, put it on.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah.

We click really well. I think we just have so much in common

'and I feel like I can talk about anything.'

If you get scared, just give me a squeeze.

All in all, it was an amazing night, actually.

A brilliant day and a brilliant evening.

I really, really like her and I'm really,

really pleased that it's going so well. I never in a million years

expected things to turn out as well as they have done so far

so, yeah...

I got a tax rebate the other day as well.

This is like the luckiest time in my life for me right now really.

Everything's going so well, touch wood.

While Mandy and Stuart are gradually getting to know

each other, some couples had an instant connection.

Like Nigel and Alyssa, who got off to a great start.

He seems absolutely wonderful

and there's nothing I'd fault him on at the moment.

Yeah, she's lovely, definitely.

He bought me some flowers. I mean, what more can a girl ask for?

Little bit of spray on, make myself smell beautiful.

Since then, they've discovered their personalities click

and the relationship has been on fast forward.

We've spoken mostly every night since.

Been on the phone to each other for a couple of hours.

'Yeah, we're speaking to each other a lot,'

it just seems like he's the first person I talk to in the morning

and the last person I talk to at night.

The romance between us is pretty whirlwind,

it's been absolutely a rollercoaster of emotions, definitely.

We've shared quite a few secrets and yeah, had my first kiss,

which is quite unusual really.

Tonight, Nigel's invited Alyssa to his home town...

..for a date at the fun fair.

-Shall we do this?

-Let's do this.

Don't mess with me!

I reckon she likes me, I don't know.

She's smiling all the time so she must like a bit of me!

He has a certain look he gives me. It just makes me smile instantly.

I don't know, I just get that feeling in my tummy,

a bit girly and a bit giggly.

Nigel and Alyssa's connection is obvious

and they've even talked about when they'll take things further.

We've basically set a boundary of the fifth date

for when we have sex and stuff like that.

It's just part of who I am, you know, I'm not going to give it up easy.

I am dying for that fifth date, definitely.

It's going to be amazing.

They all look the same.

By the end of the night, Nigel's got something to say to Alyssa.

I've had such a nice time today

and I think it's been really, really

quite possibly the best week of my life.

-Let's make it official.

-What?

-Me and you.

-Really?

-Definitely.

-Oh, yeah, of course.

-Seriously?

-Yeah, I'll stick with you.

-Really?

Yeah, baby.

'Me making it official with Alyssa now,'

it's kind of topped the happiest week of my life, definitely.

'I've never had a week like this, it's been a real highlight for me.'

However, it's just crazy. We'll know each other for a week tomorrow.

It probably was the right decision

but it doesn't stop me thinking it wasn't.

Alyssa's having second thoughts already.

Could it be a case of too much too soon?

It's six weeks since Mandy met Stuart for a first date in Brighton.

They've been staying over at each other's flats and, like Nigel

and Alyssa, they've also been working to the fifth-date rule.

So tonight I'm going to cook some fajitas.

It's the first time Stuart's come round here

and I'm going to cook so it'll be interesting.

Hopefully I won't give him food poisoning.

'When I met Mandy, we went on four dates

'and only kissed briefly at the end of the first two dates.'

By the fifth date, she came round mine

'and I asked Mandy if she wanted to stay over and she said,

"Well, I was planning to anyway."

-Hello, gorgeous.

-Hi.

-How are you doing, all right?

'She told her mum she'd wait until the fifth date before we had sex

'so her mum and her friends knew, but I didn't.'

Yeah, we started getting it on and I thought

I was going to last 10 seconds.

Luckily I managed to last a bit longer than that.

'Yeah, things have been going pretty strong ever since, actually.'

-Oh, wow, that looks and smells stunning.

-Come and help yourself.

-Why, thank you.

-Do you know, these are a bit smaller than normal ones

so they're a bit really...

-That's all right, that's fine.

-It's going to be messy, hang on.

I can't even get it in. I don't normally have that problem.

This outfit I'm going to wear to the Lady Gaga concert is black tape over

my nipples and a black, maybe leather, skirt

or PVC skirt and high heels.

'Sex is really important with me in a relationship.'

I do have quite a high sex drive

so someone that does equally is best for me, I would say.

I've got strawberries and grapes and yoghurt for pudding.

Ooh, strawberries.

Aren't they an aphrodisiac or is it that just me who thought that?

-Yeah, it is.

-They are. Score. Cool.

Well, we're having lots of strawberries tonight,

hope you've got plenty.

So, yeah, I think we'll probably

just end up spending the night in bed, which is fine with me.

-Here's your strawberries.

-Outstanding.

-There you go.

-Thank you.

-Wow, that's some serious cream.

-It's yoghurt.

-Nice, creamy yoghurt.

As they get closer,

Mandy chooses an unusual way to let Stuart know her feelings have grown.

Me and Stu were playing Draw Something on our phones

and I thought it'd be cute and I said, "I love you,"

through the messages and either he didn't see it

or he was scared, so I didn't get a reply back.

I didn't really think anything of it at the time.

I barely even noticed it.

It worried me a bit as he waited 40 minutes until he got back to me

and didn't say anything.

A day or two later when we were together and were having,

I'd say, an intimate moment, she stopped half way through and said,

"I love you," which was a bit of a shock to me

and then once she'd said it I hesitated then said,

"I love you," back and that was pretty much it really.

Just three months together and they're in love -

Stuart's spreading the news.

How are things with you and Mandy, mate?

We've crossed the I love you bridge now.

I wasn't expecting her to say it, I have to say,

but it was nice, you know, it was an unexpected pleasure.

-No, you certainly seem happier since then.

-I think so, yeah.

Things seem to be going all right for you two.

It's just been awesome.

'I was quite shocked that they'd said it quite so early.'

I suppose if it's the right time then that's all that matters.

'I'm not used to telling a girl I love her after,

'sort of, three months in.'

You know, that's a good thing, really. Everything's going so well.

I'm just lucky that we're so compatible really.

Here's to successful relationships and lots of beer.

Cheers, mate.

Just as they declare their love,

Mandy heads off to Crete for a girly holiday with her best friend Mel.

Just getting ready to go out on our first night out.

I don't miss Stuart yet because I haven't really thought about him.

-You did text him though.

-But I have just texted him.

I texted him saying, "I don't miss you yet." So I kept it a bit cute.

I'm a bit worried cos I know that she doesn't have any problems

picking up men so I'm a bit worried about that

but I'm a very trusting person.

I had a bit of a dance tonight and I met some nice guys.

They took us round and showed us nice places as it's the first time

we've been here so we got chauffeured around, didn't we really?

Yeah, pretty much.

She said to me a couple of times, "Don't worry, I'm not going to

"get with any guys, I'm not going to cheat on you while I'm away,"

so, yeah, it's quite comforting to hear that.

Turns out Stuart's got nothing to worry about

as absence is only making Mandy's heart grow fonder.

I've just been looking around at other couples and they're really cute

and stuff and I miss Stuart today, cos of just looking at couples.

Yeah, wish he was with us, really.

Time apart is having the opposite effect

on art student Felicity and banker James.

Although they have different interests, they do seem compatible.

James makes me laugh a lot. Giggly.

We've got to know each other a bit more and had a bit of a kiss,

which was good.

But since James started a new job in the City,

they've hardly seen each other.

You know, although we seem to like each other,

it's a lot of effort to sort of keep a relationship going

when we live on opposite sides of London and at the moment

we seem to be busy at the times when each other is free

so it's tough.

'He works whenever I have a day off and I work all weekend'

and evenings and it's just difficult.

With the lack of contact, Felicity's lost interest.

I think we were too different really, just in everything, you know,

our social circles and sort of just our personalities as well.

I don't think he quite got me and I don't think I quite got him.

I want something like I absolutely know and I know it's real

and I know they feel the same way

and I think what I actually really want is to fall in love.

It's four months since Mandy first met Stuart.

She's back from holiday

and has decided it's time to introduce him to her mum.

-So are you going to be nice to Stuart tonight?

-Course I will.

This makes it a bit more official

when you're bringing a boyfriend around.

Right then, shall we get these pizzas in the oven?

'It's been a while since mum's met a boyfriend of mine'

so it's quite exciting. What she's going to think of him.

I don't get the iron out very often, to be honest with you.

It's only on special occasions, which I think this quantifies as.

Got to make sure I look presentable. Mandy and her mum are very close.

Her mum's opinion is very important

and I am very keen to make a good impression.

It's going to be really, really awkward if her mum doesn't like me.

There we go.

Is it just fun or is it more than fun?

Well, we've said the L word.

'Mandy's just told me they've said the love word'

but I don't know how Stuart feels, you know, I'm going to try

and have a little chat with him later.

If I can get a little bit of an idea about how

he feels about this relationship.

I don't want to be a prying mother, you know, I'll just tread gently.

-Hello.

-How are you doing, hon, all right?

-I'm good, you all right?

-Come in.

-Thank you.

-You can keep your shoes on. You OK?

-Oh, hi. You all right?

-Yeah, yourself?

-Yeah.

-Linda, Stu. Stu, Linda.

-Pleased to meet you.

-Let me just dry my hands, I've just been washing up.

No worries. Pleased to meet you.

And you. How are you with pizza and a bit of salad?

-I'm brilliant with pizza and salad.

-Is that all right?

-Yeah, that's awesome.

-Enjoy.

-Thank you very much.

-You're welcome.

How do you feel you and Mandy and your relationship's gone?

Touch wood, pretty good so far, I think.

-Are you happy with my daughter?

-Very. I'm very lucky.

I mean, Mandy definitely brings out the best in me.

We got quite close quite quickly I think really, actually.

We've got on a lot better a lot quicker than I thought we would.

It's just I'm her mum and I want to ask these questions.

-I'm serious. That I can assure you of.

-Yeah?

Yeah, you know, I'm a one-woman man and when I get with someone

I hope it lasts, you know,

it just depends how long she's willing to put up with me for.

Well, it works both ways. It's give and take, isn't it?

Do you feel that it's a long-term thing?

It's something I've been thinking about a lot recently.

I suppose, for me, love with Mandy is wanting to do anything

I can to make her happy and knowing that being with her makes me

want to be a better person, you know, and also knowing that I'd do

anything I could do for her,

you know, to make her happy really, and that feeling

I get being around her, you know, that I don't get with anyone else.

-That churning of the tummy.

-Yeah... Wonderful, thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-Amazing.

-What do you think of him?

-I think he's all right.

-Really?

-Yeah, he's lovely. He's a positive man.

-Yeah, well that's good.

-As long as he treats you right.

Not my normal type though, is he?

No, he's not your normal type but he seems very, very fond of you

and he's not scared to say the word love.

All right. OK, darling, give me a kiss and I'll speak to you.

'I felt very comfortable with him.'

Her body language's changed, her outlook in life's changed

and that means he's good for her.

-Delicious dinner.

-Oh, thank you.

'I think we got on pretty well actually, yeah.'

Mandy didn't really get a word in edgeways.

Me and her mum were just chatting away most of the night.

-So how do you think I did?

-Yeah, I think you did really well.

-I think Mum likes you.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

In the weeks that follow, Mandy and Stuart share everything.

There are days out in the country...

-The chickens that have flares, like this ginger one there.

-On the legs.

Like a '70s disco chicken.

..Mandy takes Stuart to her life drawing classes...

-They're nice, very nice.

-I like yours.

-You've definitely got the hair down.

-Yeah.

Stuart's really liking it and I heard him say he might want to come again.

I'm definitely not too embarrassed.

Yeah, I'd quite like to start coming with Mandy every Sunday.

..and Stuart introduces Mandy to his friends.

They are desperate to meet us as soon as we get there.

Friends that haven't got on with my girlfriend in the past,

the relationships have always ended in tears actually.

Let's hope Mandy goes down well.

-How are you? Hello.

-Hello.

-Nice to meet you.

-Hi, nice to meet you.

Is this the first date?

No, this is like the 20,000th date!

'Stuart's friends seem to be a bit nosey but I don't mind that,

'it's not bothered me.'

I'm happy to answer any questions politely.

They really seem a nice couple, they really do.

The way they kind of gel together.

-And we... Oh, sorry, hon.

-That's all right. It's OK.

I think Mandy is right for Stu.

Just the way he looks at her and he's always smiling

and you can tell he's a little bit nervous around her, a little

bit jittery, which is good, and it's really nice to see him happy.

'Yeah, Mandy's getting on really well with all my friends so far.

'She's having a really good time.'

I think really she'd just like to be alone with me so we can chill out.

'I think she's doing this for me more than anything,'

which means a lot.

You're blushing.

'I met Stuart's friends. It all went well, I got on OK.'

I can't remember all their names but I'm sure I'll meet them again.

-Here's to Stu and Mandy.

-Thank you.

Sadly, things are not going well for Nigel and Alyssa.

When they first met they had an instant connection...

He seems absolutely wonderful and there's nothing I could fault him on.

..and their relationship moved at lightning pace.

-Let's make it official, me and you.

-Oh, yeah, of course.

But they've just had a major falling out.

A little bit of a tiff, I'd say.

About obviously Facebook

and updating kind of a relationship status.

I've been kind of struggling with the idea of being committed to

anyone, not just Nigel, actually just anyone.

Well, just to let you know, me and Nigel are still arguing,

which is really bad.

We just had a massive argument on the phone.

After a hurtful row over the phone, everything has changed...

Can I have a cappuccino, please? Thank you very much.

..and Alyssa has decided it's time to bring things to a head.

I think my opinions of him changed overnight, basically.

When it got to the nitty-gritty like life, career, future,

nothing matched whatsoever.

Hiya, you all right?

'I probably am a little bit to blame and I do rush into things'

sometimes but that's just me, that's just what I do.

-So what's the situation then?

-I think we should just leave it.

I don't know what likelihood of us being friends is

cos it's a bit weird.

-Is that all right?

-Yeah, that's fine.

'He's just got that face where you look at him

'and you're like, "I can't hate you." I don't know.'

It's like kicking a puppy or something.

It makes me really upset.

-That's what I seem to do,

-BLEEP

-break hearts all the time,

you know what I mean?

'I think the right decision was made'

but I feel really terrible for making that decision because he's

'such a nice guy, I don't want to be the one to kind of stamp on him.'

I feel a little bit sad actually, like, it's all over now.

-Getting the train, are you?

-I'm going to the bus stop.

I'm going to go to the car park anyway.

-Together, or what do you want to do?

-I don't mind.

I'll try my best to pick myself up cos I always do.

And get on with things really.

Five months ago, Stuart met Mandy

and now, like many other couples in the experiment,

they are going steady.

But like any relationship, there are bumps along the way and,

for the first time, Mandy's got some concerns.

'I've found it really frustrating that he hasn't contacted me.'

The last month, I'd say, he hasn't had time to see me

and he keeps on making other plans and stuff.

I'm being a typical girl being like "Oh, my God, he's not text".

I've been rushed off my feet recently, I've had a lot going on.

Mandy has, unfortunately, I suppose, taken a little bit

more of a backseat than either of us would like.

Tonight they're hoping to clear the air.

-Hello.

-Hello, how are you doing, all right?

-You OK?

-Good, and yourself?

-Yeah, OK.

-Good. You look lovely.

-Thanks.

-Beautiful. Sexy-bum trousers.

Yeah.

I had a think about things and I thought about why I am sort of

so rubbish at staying in contact and everything else.

I do like you to keep in contact even if it was just like a little

kiss in the morning on a text message or just,

"Hi, I'm here, sorry I ignore you all day, but I want my space".

You're right. I don't plan it.

I suppose that's where the problem has come in, isn't it, I suppose?

I mean, partly that is just me but you know how you say for you

this is moving slowly, for me this is moving fast.

It's unknown and I'm just a bit worried about everything really

and that's why I like to have my space sometimes and take a breather

and have a day where I don't speak to you

or anyone else for that matter.

So do you think it's moving too fast in your opinion?

I'm not used to getting on with someone so well so quickly.

A bit like a commitment thing really, I'm a bit scared, you know,

that it will get so good so quick

and then it will go so wrong so quick.

I think the best way forward would be just to tell me

if you want time by yourself.

You know, if I need a day, I need to just say,

"Leave me alone, please. Kiss, kiss, kiss."

Cos I won't be annoyed with that, I don't want you to think I will be.

I'll just be like "OK".

I feel the conversation we've

just had went really well and I feel like I got quite a lot off my chest.

I think we've kind of reached a bit of a...almost a compromise

and we've sort of got a bit of structure. We're going to try

and make sure we see each other a couple of times a week.

I need to learn to put Mandy first a bit more

often for the relationship to move forward.

But before Stuart can prove he'll keep to his word,

Mandy receives some devastating news.

In the last couple of weeks my dad passed away

so it has been quite difficult.

He passed away quite suddenly.

Even though I didn't see my dad very often, we were quite close,

like on the phone he used to call me every day.

I feel quite lonely now he's not around.

I haven't really had to do anything except sort of try and be there for

her really, you know, I've just tried to be a shoulder for her

to cry on and help her when I can, really.

Yeah, and he came to the funeral, which was really nice of him.

He didn't sit next to me, he wanted to hide in the background

but the fact that he was there meant so much to me.

Seeing her going through this real tough time made me

realise how much I really do care about her and how

worried about her and how I, you know, just want to do everything

I can to help her get through it as much as I can, really, you know.

In the weeks after her father's funeral, Stuart puts Mandy first.

-Hello, hon, how are you doing, all right?

-You got me some flowers.

-Yeah.

-Thank you.

-It's cool.

-Thanks.

-That's all right.

How are you doing?

'Stu has been really supportive with my dad situation'

and some of my friends found it hard to talk to me

so I thought maybe he'd be the same but he's been really there for me.

'I think she's struggling but I like to think I'm sort of a positive'

influence in her life at the moment to help her get through

the tough times she's going through.

Stuart does his best to help Mandy through such

a tough time in her life.

# Whoa, whoa, whoa There's no stopping me! #

'It's one of my best relationships, I would say, so far.'

It's just worked. We're like really compatible in strange little ways.

Yeah, he's my world really.

'I think people become more attractive or less attractive

'as you get to know them, you know.'

I looked at Mandy and thought she was pretty hot

but now I think she's gorgeous,

because I know her now, I find her that much more attractive.

It's approaching the end of the year and Stuart and Mandy

have committed to a new stage in their relationship.

I'm moving into Stu's and I'm just packing at the moment.

I have quite a lot of stuff.

I feel a bit weird cos I've never lived with a guy before or

moved in with a guy but I think as we get on so well, I feel

so comfortable so I think moving in now is a good step.

And once at Stuart's, Mandy's keen to settle in quickly.

This is where the pink deer is going.

-It's

-BLEEP

-not.

-SHE LAUGHS

You can stick it up your arse, darling. Love you.

This is why I have this side, you have this side.

My part of the bedroom.

'I have to admit, at the start of this year if somebody had said,

'"You're going to be living with your new girlfriend,"'

I would have told them they were totally crazy.

-Is that your

-BLEEP

-down there? That's my

-BLEEP,

-isn't it?

-No, that's my real

-BLEEP.

Moving in together is a big deal in a relationship and it is a big test.

It's either make or break.

Yes, if all goes well, see what happens, I guess.

Ready to take the next step - get married, have kids.

Next time, we'll reveal how science created the matches

and find out what happened next

for many of the couples who took part in The Year Of Making Love.

Year Of Making Love -

it has certainly been that for me, I have to admit.

-You are playing with my mind.

-God, I feel physically sick.

Yeah? Oh, that's a shame, isn't it?

-We made it.

-We did.

Oh, owls, I love owls.

We are looking at moving in together. News flash.

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