Viewers it seemed, either loved or hated the first episode of Blind Date Ireland.
It’s safe to say the dating scene has changed completely since millions of viewers tuned in to the original version of Blind Date hosted by Cilla Black back in the day, but there was always likely to be plenty of interest in the Irish version of the show, which kicked off on TV3 on Sunday night.
And the first episode of the new series, with Al Porter at the helm, certainly generated a reaction, even if it wasn’t a universally positive one.
Viewers watched Dionne from Cork choose between Gary from Kilkenny, David from Dublin and Keith from Kildare, an impersonator of Keith Flint from The Prodigy in his spare time.
A little later on, meanwhile, Gary from Tallaght was tasked with selecting between Jennifer from Meath, Niamh from Leixlip and Ciara from Blanchardstown as his date for the evening.
https://twitter.com/TV3Ireland/status/917132496482922496
Unlike the restaurant setting of First Dates, for example, Blind Date was an altogether livelier affair, which made for plenty of entertaining moments and more than a fair share of incidents that would make one cringe in horror at the television.
https://twitter.com/TV3Ireland/status/917133774885756928
Even viewers cringing at what they were seeing couldn’t switch it over, it seemed, and we’re sure there will be plenty tuning in for more of the same next week.
Here’s a flavour of the reaction the show generated on social media on Sunday night.
https://twitter.com/fergmcfadden/status/917131240666525696
https://twitter.com/AoibheannMcCaul/status/917122162493919232
https://twitter.com/FCTwenteBenson/status/917121038525267968
https://twitter.com/Davydoesdublin/status/917119356668178432
https://twitter.com/foxymm12/status/917119162975182848
https://twitter.com/ainemm91/status/917125104307523584
https://twitter.com/hollyshortall/status/917133138018611200
https://twitter.com/Sunshine_Emma/status/917128132355862528
https://twitter.com/olinkidink/status/917137071470497792
https://twitter.com/johnpaterson29/status/917271252280205312
https://twitter.com/Dawnesme/status/917134255402176513
