First Dates regrets? I’ve had a few
Phil Penny returns to dating show to prove he’s a reformed man
HE was pilloried online for one of the worst performances on First Dates Ireland, but Phil Penny from Tallafornia is back and looking for redemption.
Fans of the series will get a sense of déjà vu this Thursday night on RTÉ 2 as the reality TV star returns to the First Dates restaurant.
This time, however, Phil – who received notoriety on the-then TV3 show – has ditched the fake tan and cut down on the alcohol in a bid to show viewers he is not just the boozy, boorish lout that appeared on last year’s show.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Phil insisted that it was alcohol and not his personality that were his downfall last year.‘It was to redeem myself from last year’s episode, that’s why I came back,’ he said.
‘I made a fool of myself and I wanted to come back and just be myself.
‘I am not Philly from Tallafornia any more. I am a 34-year-old man from Tallaght now.
‘Last year was bad but I just had too many drinks. I had been out at a mate’s 30th and wasn’t the best the next morning. I started drinking when I got to the Gibson and then when I was waiting to go on set they gave me a bottle of wine which I went through half of.’
Following the date, Phil was lambasted by viewers on social media after asking Louth woman AmyMaria Dunne if she had ever had cosmetic surgery and he made lewd comments about her bust. Unsurprisingly, she didn’t go for a second date.
Phil added: ‘I was embarrassed myself when I looked at it. That episode followed me around for months after, so when RTÉ got onto me and asked me if I wanted to go back on, I was glad to get the chance to redeem myself.’
The Phil on Thursday’s episode is almost unrecognisable from last year’s episode. Now studying food nutrition and personal training, he revealed this will be his last appearance on reality TV.
And whatever happens on this week’s show with his date Rachel, a 30-year-old from Wexford, he is happy to report that he has found love in real life.
In fact his girlfriend, Laura, is expecting their first child today.
He said: ‘I didn’t go on the show looking for love – I have a partner now, her name is Laura. She is expecting our first child this weekend. My TV career is over now, this is it. Laura understands why I did it. I never wanted a girlfriend when I went back and RTÉ knew that. ’
‘I wanted to come back and just be myself’