Blind date

I’d love to settle down and have children My mum can’t wait for me to get married

Every week, we send a couple on a blind date and report back. This time, Mark Jervis, 34, had dinner at Skylon at the royal Festival Hall in London with Tori Just, 36.

Mark works in marketing and lives in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. Tori owns a talent company and lives in Streatham, South London.

TORI, 36, SAYS:

AT 36, I’m very happy to lay my cards on the table: I would love to meet someone who wants to settle down and have children. But, unfortunately, I don’t think I’m a very good judge of character when it comes to men because, so far, I’ve been unlucky in love.

I’ve only ever been on one blind date before. That time, my date arrived in a Lamborghini and it went downhill from there. He was far too flashy. I seem to end up with the guys most women avoid.

So I was worried about the initial impression I’d make on this date after arriving five minutes late.

Fortunately, Mark wasn’t concerned and I was relieved to see he looked like a genuine and normal guy.

From the moment I sat down at our table, the conversation flowed. When we found out we work in similar fields, we didn’t pause for breath. There was more than a bit of networking going on!

The restaurant was lovely and I’d definitely go there again. Mark ordered me a lovely glass of Prosecco. I had a main course of lamb — we enjoy the same food and we shared a side salad, too.

While we got on brilliantly on an intellectual level, with a reluctant hand on my heart, Mark isn’t serious date material. If he was taller, then he might be.

I realise that sounds rather shallow but, at 5 ft 9 in, we’re the same height. I’m someone who adores wearing heels and I like to feel smaller than the man I date.

In lots of ways, it was a perfect blind date — the restaurant had incredible views across the Thames, the food was fantastic and Mark is a lovely guy. After we’d finished at the restaurant, we even went on for another drink. We have lots in common and there were no awkward silences, either.

But, while I feel like I could be very good friends with Mark, unfortunately I just didn’t feel any sexual chemistry.

I was with a commitment-phobe for much of my late 20s. I didn’t cotton on until we moved in together.

After three years of dating, he changed the moment we were living together and it was obvious we weren’t ever going to make it down the aisle. Since then, I’ve had a one- year relationship, which ended last year after I found out he cheated on me.

I have been on a few dates via online apps Tinder and Bumble, but none of them have gone anywhere. The worst kind of date is feeling as though you are being interviewed and I have been on plenty of those.

Today, I tend to socialise mainly with single friends. It’s too dull to go out with friends who are in serious relationships or married.

My sister, who is two years younger than me, is already married. My mum is stressed that I’m still single and sometimes puts pressure on me to settle down. At times, I do have to gently tell her to stop it!

The truth is that I have a great career and I love what I do, hiring out entertainers for events. It can be full on and that perhaps stops me from meeting people, but it does mean I can be flexible with my work. I will find the time for the right person. LIKED? The conversation. REGRETS? I wore a skirt with a zip up the front that kept coming down! COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee. Verdict: 8/10

MARK, 34, SAYS:

I’ve never found the love of my life, so I was incredibly nervous about the prospect of a blind date. I turned up 15 minutes early, so I went to a local bar for a pint, to summon up some Dutch courage!

My first impression of Tori was: ‘Wow!’ She is a very good-looking woman and we both had a glass of Prosecco when she arrived, which helped break the ice. She was dressed nicely in a black top and a white skirt. The skirt had a zip up the front, which kept coming undone. We laughed it off by blaming the food!

My impression of her got better as the night went on.

I really enjoyed Tori’s company, as we’re very similar. She is very driven and we had a connection through our work. Throughout dinner, we continued to spark off one another.

I had salmon to start, followed by lamb. Half way through the meal, we both confessed we’d forgotten each other’s names!

It broke the ice even more — there wasn’t a minute’s silence throughout the meal. For pudding, Tori had creme brulee, while I ordered a white chocolate tart.

On reflection, I’ve prioritised other areas of my life over finding a partner. I’ve never taken dating too seriously because my friends always come first.

My work has always been full on and I’m in the office from 8 to 6 every day. But it means I’ve got my own home and, as I enjoy DIY, it is perfect.

It’s only now that I’d like to settle down and my mum has made it very clear that she wants me to get married!

recently, I was the best man at my best friend’s wedding. I know Mum would love to be at the centre of my own wedding day. She asks me when is she going to get to be mother of the groom.

It’s no coincidence my best friend put me forward for this, either. He believes I’ll make ‘the best husband ever!’

While there needs to be some compatibility, I’m fundamentally interested in someone I can have a laugh with. I enjoy the outdoors and, while I want someone who I can go on holiday with, I want someone career-minded, too.

There is definitely a spark there and, even though Tori’s type is tall and dark, I do think she is potential date material.

When we’d finished, we went on to another bar. It was outdoors and a gloriously sunny evening. It was the perfect end to the date.

We exchanged numbers and I messaged Tori after the date and the following morning. LIKED? everything. We’re very similar. REGRETS? That I was so nervous before the date. COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee. Verdict: 9/10