BEST OF THE REST
FIRST DATES Channel 4, 10pm
THE enduring dating show returns with more singletons searching for romance.
The fact that the hopefuls seem genuinely to be looking for love rather than fame is what keeps this show going.
It’s a fun opener. First in is 26-year-old semi-professional footballer Reece. But at 5ft 4in, he is worried that his height will stop him from scoring with his date – 29-year-old marketing consultant Ria.
On another table, Byron has struggled with dating because women always freak out at his career as a funeral director and mortician. He meets 34-year-old Lexi who also alarms people with her choice of job – she’s an Ann Summers party planner.
Elsewhere, 54-year-old Fenella is low on confidence due to her hearing impediment, but she’s hoping for fireworks with 61-year-old Alan.
And bartender Rosco is sick of going home alone at night, but will he win over party girl Helen who wants someone to keep up with her wild weekends?
HOSPITAL BBC2, 9pm
AS this heart-in-mouth hospital documentary series continues, there’s a major trauma incident.
A young man has arrived at Aintree Hospital, on Merseyside, by emergency helicopter after being stabbed in the chest – one of three stabbings that day. A 15-strong team is doing everything they can to save his life, but it’s a race against the clock.
Elsewhere, there’s a visit to The Royal Liverpool Hospital, which provides emergency care for ten of the most deprived areas in the UK.
The Royal deals with an increasing number of ‘frequent fliers’ – patients who return multiple times and who put extra strain on the system.
After 139 incidences of aggression towards staff over a seven-year period, one frequent flier is given an ultimatum – stop abusing staff and the system or face a year-long exclusion.
Back at Aintree, a patient with advanced motor neurone disease is set to leave hospital, but it’s not that simple.
Another stressful, but insightful instalment of this gritty series.