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First Dates star Tom Smith still looking for love after TV show aired

10:00, 27 September 2016

A Kent love seeker is still on the market - after failing to find romance despite two TV appearances.

Tom Smith, of Joy Lane, Whitstable, appeared on the Channel 4 First Dates for the second time last night, but still didn't manage to find the magic chemistry.

The 26-year-old's first appearance on the show trended on Twitter, being described as one of the most awkward TV dates ever.

Tom Smith had a disastrous date with Olivia. Picture: Channel 4.
Tom Smith had a disastrous date with Olivia. Picture: Channel 4.

“Excruciating”, “stilted chit-chat” and “this is what zero chemistry looks like” were among the comments in the aftermath of the the first episode.

Now Tom has chatted exclusively to kmfm's breakfast show presenters Garry and Emma - giving an insight into the behind-the-scenes production of the show.

“It’s trying to remember back from when you’re doing the filming to how it is on TV, there’s so much behind the scenes stuff that you don’t notice on the programme.

“You think about how much work goes into it and they’re doing that just so people can have a date.

“It’s brilliant.”

He told the pair he "didn't expect it to kick off as much as it did" after the first show.

But he admitted the show was fair to him, and he was even more nervous than he appeared.

Tom Smith and his date Olivia. Picture: Channel 4.
Tom Smith and his date Olivia. Picture: Channel 4.

Tom admitted the filming was daunting, with camera crews, light and sound technicians buzzing around during the date.

The 26-year-old said: “You’re not allowed to say a word until it airs and even when it does they’re quite restrictive of what you can say after.

“You’re not allowed to disclose anything about the filming and how it all works behind the scenes.”

“It’s a good couple of hours because it's a full meal plus all the bits they shoot after the date.

“The day itself is really long, you can be another two hours doing the extra filming.”

He was even given prompts of what to say when the awkwardness bit.

Tom applied for the show in March and was invited to attend the First Dates restaurant in London, where he was filmed meeting Olivia, a 21-year-old classics student from Bristol for the first episode.

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