Will the stars align forceleb romance?
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CELEB FIRST DATES HOTEL SU2C Channel 4, 9pm
IN theory, it should be easy for celebrities to find romance. Not only are a lot of them already naturally good looking, but they also have fame and (sometimes) fortune on their side.
But whether it’s because they’re looking for someone who can see beyond their appearance and bank balance, or just because anyone can struggle to find the right person, it seems that some of Britain’s celebs need a bit of help finding a mate.
That’s where the Celeb First Dates Hotel for SU2C comes in, as Fred Sirieix and his team are rolling out the red carpet for some special guests.
Admittedly, one of the celebs has already checked in – Duncan James of Blue and Hollyoaks fame arrived last week. Unfortunately, the matchmakers at the hotel hit a snag when it turned out Duncan had already met his date, Joao, back home in London. We might find out tonight that the friends have started to see each other with fresh eyes inside the hotel.
The new arrivals include Ulrika Jonsson, who is no stranger to dating shows. Back in 2002, she presented the reality competition Mr Right, in which 15 single women competed for the attention of eligible bachelor, Lance Gerrard-Wright. However, in a genuine twist, he ended up marrying Ulrika.
Now though, she’s hoping that a stay in the First Dates Hotel will provide her with some much-need R&R following the breakdown of her third marriage. She could certainly do with a chuckle – she admits that no man has made her laugh since 2005. Can Bristolian businessman (and funny man) Paul, who is also in need of a giggle following a painful divorce, put the smile back on Ulrika’s face?
Meanwhile, The
Only Way Is Essex’s
Pete ‘the Pirate’
Wicks is rarely short of female admirers, but he fears that his reputation as a Casanova means that potential partners don’t take him seriously.
His date is eco-fashion designer Emily, who says she’s looking for a reformed bad boy. So, on paper they’re the perfect match, but will Pete’s past prove to be a stumbling block?
Finally for this episode (and the series, which concludes tonight), TV presenter AJ Odudu arrives, nursing a broken heart. The presenter, whose previous TV credits include Big Brother’s Bit on the Side and a stint as a contestant on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, confesses that she tends to choose her career over romance and that she has a habit of ‘friend-zoning’ men who get too close to her.
Oh, and she also thinks she’s notoriously bad at flirting. Could handsome six-foot mortgage broker and ex-model Duke make her realise that she’s not bad at romance as she thinks?
At least if it doesn’t work out on the relationship front for our celebrities, they can take great comfort in the fact they have raised awareness for a very good cause, Stand Up to Cancer.