MARC’S VERDICT: 8/10

LIKED? The conversation. REGRETS? None at all. COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee, or a drink in the pub!

DATING PAST?

I’ve been single for more than ten years. My longest relationship lasted for three years, but that was a long time ago. I think I’ve been single for so long possibly because I’m looking for someone exactly as described above, and it’s a rare combination.

PRE-DATE NERVES?

None at all.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

Julie arrived on time, which was great — unpunctual people drive me crazy. She is slim and very well-presented. I hope that doesn’t make her sound like a car in a showroom!

EASY TO TALK TO?

very much so. We talked about the nightmares we’ve had on internet dating and she told me how some men had sent her pictures which were clearly of different people.

She’s got an interesting and glamorous job which has taken her all over the world, so we chatted about some of the places we’d both visited, such as New Zealand and Australia.

EMBARRASSING MOMENTS?

None. I waited to see what she ordered first in case she was a vegan or veggie — I didn’t want to order meat if that was the case as that could have ruined the date. But she wasn’t — she ordered steak tartare!

DID SPARKS FLY?

I’d say 50/50. It was by no means awkward. There have been some dates where I’ve wanted to get out of there desperately, but it wasn’t the case this time.

Having said that, I don’t think either of us are ‘love at first sight’ kind of people.

SEE HER AGAIN?

I’d like to see her again, yes, even as just a friend.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE THOUGHT OF YOU?

I Don’t know. She complimented me on my eyes which I thought was nice, and we talked a lot about cars and travel.

She has a place in the French Alps and asked me if I could ski, but I can’t. And I can only speak schoolboy French, so I’m not sure what she thought about that.

WOULD YOUR FRIENDS LIKE HER?

very much so, she would fit into my circle of pals no problem.

Interviews: JILL FOSTER