Joe on Jade
What were you hoping for?
A genuine connection beyond an algorithm – good conversation and a fun story to tell.
First impressions?
Jade was friendly, and the conversation flowed easily right from the start.
What did you talk about?
Favourite Doctor Who episodes (The Girl in the Fireplace, obviously). How great London is in summer. Favourite music venues. How the transatlantic accent needs to make a comeback.
Most awkward moment?
A mild disagreement about whether the BT Tower is evil – I disagreed.
Good table manners?
Impeccable on my part.
Best thing about Jade?
She knows exactly what she wants in life. And she’s great to talk to.
Would you introduce Jade to your friends?
Absolutely.
Q&A
Fancy a blind date?
Blind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, then tell us all about it by answering a set of questions. It runs with a photo we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been going 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 kind of person you’re hoping to meet. If you don’t think these cover everything you’d 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 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’d love to hear from people living elsewhere.
How to apply
Email blind.date@theguardian.com
Was this helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Describe Jade in three words.
Open, enthusiastic, fun.
What do you think Jade made of you?
Probably that I gesture too much, but otherwise, hopefully, normal enough.
Did you go on somewhere?
No, she had an early flight, but we made a pretty good dent in the Guardian’s tab at the restaurant!
And … did you kiss?
No, just a hug on the Mildmay line on the way home.
If you could change one thing about the date, what would it be?
It was a lovely evening, so no complaints here.
Marks out of 10?
8.
Would you meet again?
We’ve exchanged numbers!
Joe and Jade on their date
Jade on Joe
What were you hoping for?
To make a connection with someone and have a good story to tell our future pets.
First impressions?
Cute and well dressed.
What did you talk about?
Books. Family pets. Our favourite parks in London. The housing crisis. The constant longing to be by the sea when you grew up by the coast. Debating whether it’s better to be a reality TV villain or completely cut from the final edit for being too boring.
Most awkward moment?
We got really into chatting and I wasn’t ready when they came to take our order – so I had to ask for extra time.
Good table manners?
He kept my water glass full and went along with my plan to say cheers with every new drink.
Best thing about Joe?
He was really fun to talk to. We were on the same wavelength about a lot of things, but it was also fun to discuss when we weren’t.
Would you introduce Joe to your friends?
I would.
Describe Joe in three words.
Intelligent, thoughtful, affable.
What do you think Joe made of you?
Probably that I’m very talkative and have a lot of strong opinions on frivolous matters.
BliDate: ‘She’s one of the easiest people to talk to that I’ve ever met.’ Read more. Did you go anywhere else? I had an early flight the next morning, so we said goodbye at the Overground station. And did you kiss? Just a hug goodbye. If you could change one thing about the date, what would it be? I would have liked to stay out a bit later – I doubt it would have made my 5am start much harder. Marks out of 10? 9. Would you meet again? Yes! We’re in touch about planning our next outing. Joe and Jade ate at the Bull & Last, London NW5. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Blind Date He probably thinks I have a lot of strong opinions on silly things
Beginner Questions
What does He probably thinks I have a lot of strong opinions on silly things mean
Its a selfconscious thought someone has after a blind date worrying that they talked too passionately about unimportant topics and came across as intense or picky
What is a blind date
A date where two people meet for the first time usually set up by a friend family member or app without having met beforehand
Why do people go on blind dates
To meet new people possibly find a partner or just have a fun night out Often its because a trusted person thought the two would hit it off
Is it bad to have strong opinions on a date
No Having opinions shows youre interesting and engaged It only becomes a problem if you dominate the conversation or judge the other person for disagreeing
What counts as a silly topic
Anything lowstakes pineapple on pizza the correct way to hang toilet paper best pizza topping whether cereal is soup favorite fonts etc
Intermediate Questions
Why do people worry about seeming too opinionated after a date
Because first impressions matter They fear being seen as argumentative difficult or exhausting rather than fun and easygoing
How can I tell if my date actually minded my strong opinions
Look at their signals Did they laugh along Did they share their own opinions Did they ask to meet again If yes they probably enjoyed it
Whats the difference between being passionate and being overbearing
Passionate means sharing views with energy and humor while leaving room for the other person Overbearing means talking over them not listening or treating disagreement as a personal attack
Should I tone down my personality on a first date
No but you can adjust your delivery Be yourself just remember to ask questions and give your date space to speak
What are signs a blind date went well
Easy conversation laughter mutual questions a genuine goodbye and followup texts or a seconddate plan
Advanced Questions
How do I recover if I think I talked too much about trivial things
Send a lighthearted followup I promise I dont usually rant about pizza toppings hope I didnt
