First Dates broke new ground after a contestant revealed she’d married herself midway through her date.
Mel, 42, from Weymouth was paired with Damien, 40, from Bristol, who kicked off the flirty banter early dissecting his job as a massage and hypnotherapist.
Midway through the date, however, Damien spotted a ring on her finger – sparking concern there could be a major complication among the lighthearted frolics.
Turns out, there was a bigger surprise in store – with Mel stating how she married herself following a particularly brutal break-up from her last boyfriend.
‘I got dumped on Christmas Eve by text after a five and a half year relationship,’ Mel said. ‘And I always said to my ex-boyfriend I’m going to get married.
‘So after I was dumped I thought, okay I’m going to go ahead with this. It was almost like a bit of a, “Up yours, I’m happy I’m on my own. I don’t need you.”
‘I think after two failed marriages and a series of failed long term relationships, I’ve neglected myself. My wedding was a message of saying I’m going to celebrate me and loving me and therefore the law of attraction, attracting somebody into my life, that is worthy of my love.’
‘It’s so empowering and it’s such a sense of fulfilment. I’m hoping whoever I’m matched with will go, “You’re mad, but I love it.” That’s the ideal reaction as to what I would want somebody to say. Maybe not you’re mad, maybe I just love the idea.’
The revelation came as baffling news to the waitress, who remarked: ‘I have never heard of that ever.
‘So if this date goes well do you have to divorce yourself?
‘I’m not sure actually,’ Mel replied. ‘Maybe I’ll have an affair first.’
Damian, however, didn’t seem to mind, saying: ‘I’m honoured. If it’s a valid way to be a better person, to be more loving, then that’s the right path. It’s great because it’s celebrating being feminine.’
Way… The hypnotism worked! Just a joke folks… All the best to Mel and Damien ? #channel4 pic.twitter.com/1OhT6u2sMi
— First Dates (@FirstDates) April 30, 2019
And viewers were similarly left asking questions.
It was later revealed how Mel and Damian went on several dates afterwards, and even ended up at Glastonbury festival together.
First Dates continues on Tuesdays Channel 4 at 10pm.
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