Channel 4 courts First Dates spin-off

UK broadcaster Channel 4 is expanding its relationship with popular romance format First Dates.

The pubcaster has commissioned First Dates Hotel, a 6x60mins spin-off series in which the original shows Fred Siriex, a restaurant maître d’, and his team host singletons on blind dates at a boutique hotel in the French countryside.

A new format twist will see those that enjoy their date having their stays extended, and those who don’t find love rematched with another singleton.

First Dates producer Twenty Twenty and executive producer Nicola Lloyd will both return.

“Having worked across multiple series of first dates we’re really excited to develop the format and take into a new space,” said series editor Adam Chapman.

“The hotel, whilst retaining all of the charm of the restaurant series will give the viewer the chance to see first dates develop into second dates answering that eternal question ‘what happens next’.”

Channel 4’s commissioning editor, Madonna Benjamin, ordered the show.

Warner Bros. International Television Production distributes the original series, selling it into territories including New Zealand, Canada and the US.