Blind date: ‘I was sweating quite a lot for the first five minutes’

5 hours ago 6

Daniel - man with ginger/brown hair and beard in dark clothes

Daniel on Isla

What were you hoping for?
A new experience, and the chance to meet someone the Guardian thinks I’d get along with.

First impressions?
She was very smiley and chatty!

What did you talk about?
Our jobs, what brought us to London, the differences between British and Australian humour (Isla is Australian), and our shared love of tiramisu.

Most awkward moment?
I was sweating quite a lot for the first five minutes.

Good table manners?
Table manners went out the window when we started cooking our own hotpot.

Best thing about Isla?
She was very easy to get along with.

Q&A

Fancy a blind date?

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Blind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.

What questions will I be asked?
We ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions cover everything you would like to know, tell us what’s on your mind.

Can I choose who I match with?
No, it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests, preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely to be.

Can I pick the photograph?
No, but don't worry: we'll choose the nicest ones.

What personal details will appear?
Your first name, job and age.

How should I answer?
Honestly but respectfully. Be mindful of how it will read to your date, and that Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online.

Will I see the other person’s answers?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details.

Will you find me The One?
We’ll try! Marriage! Babies!

Can I do it in my home town?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere.

How to apply
Email [email protected]

Would you introduce Isla to your friends?
Yes, it’d be a good night at the pub.

Describe Isla in three words
Bright, cheerful and confident.

What do you think Isla made of you?
I’m not sure, but I hope she had a nice time.

Did you go on somewhere?
We didn’t, but we journeyed part of the way home together.

And … did you kiss?
No kiss, but we had a nice hug when the train got to my stop.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
For it not to have been on a Monday, especially as we’d both had very busy weekends.

Marks out of 10?
7.5.

Would you meet again?
Yes, we plan to go for a drink once this article comes out.

Isla on Daniel

What were you hoping for?
To meet the love of my life. Failing that, a great dinner party story.

First impressions?
Daniel struck me as very warm and approachable. I felt comfortable the minute I sat down. He has lovely eyes!

What did you talk about?
Our shared love of tiramisu, cult British and Australian comedy shows, lido swimming and our side gigs (Daniel runs pub quizzes, and I DJ).

Most awkward moment?
I wouldn’t say there was one.

Good table manners?
We agreed that table manners don’t apply when eating hotpot – they give you aprons for a reason!

Best thing about Daniel?
He’s very easy to talk to, and community-minded, helping people in need through his work.

Would you introduce Daniel to your friends?
Yes, definitely.

Describe Daniel in three words
Friendly, humble, hardworking.

What do you think Daniel made of you?
I’d guess chatty and … a good appetite?

Did you go on somewhere?
If the train home counts, yes.

And … did you kiss?
A lady never tells.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Maybe not meeting on a Monday, we were both tired from busy weekends.

Marks out of 10?
8, I had a very pleasant time.

Would you meet again?
Sure, even just to debrief over a pint about the craziness of airing our first date to the nation.

Daniel and Isla ate at Da Long Yi Hotpot, London W1. Fancy a blind date? Email [email protected]