First Dates – New Series Airs Tonight! 28th October 2026
Only a few short months after the photo shoot, I’m very pleased to announce that the new series of First Dates is airing tonight on Channel 4. This time around we have some very interesting daters, two of whom are featured in tonight’s first episode, along with a few familiar faces for First Dates fans.
I’m pleased to say that I’ve been responsible for the photography for the series, which means I get to work with a brilliant mix of people, from the familiar faces who have been part of the show for years to the new daters who are about to make their television debut.
It’s always nice to see the photographs being used as the series gets ready to air, and this time there are a few images in particular that I’m very pleased to share.
Dani Babes – TikTok star with over 2 million followers!
It was actually my daughter who alerted me to the fact that I had photographed a TikTok star! An incoming message today went like this:
BTW the above clip is here from the First Dates TikTok account.
So, obviously, I went off to TikTok to have a look, and there she was – Dani Babes! @danibabes699 (this is her TikTok account).
With over two million followers, Dani has built up a huge audience on TikTok, which is quite something. It’s always interesting discovering more about the people I’ve photographed once the shoot is over.
Dani was lovely to photograph and very easy to work with, which always makes a difference when you’re trying to get a good set of portraits. It’s one of the things I enjoy about photographing people for First Dates – everyone is so excited about being on the show, they’re wearing their favourite clothes, meeting so many different people and they’re on a real natural high, it’s lovely to see.
Of course, being a TikTok star and appearing on First Dates are two rather different things! Social media gives people the opportunity to share their lives and personalities with their followers, but going on a date on television is a different experience altogether.
It will be interesting to see how Dani gets on in tonight’s episode and whether she finds the connection she’s looking for.
Here’s one of the many photographs I took of Dani for the new series:
It’s always nice when a photograph from a shoot finds its way into the press and gets people talking about the programme, and I’m delighted to see Dani featuring in the publicity for the new series.
The new First Dates group photograph
It’s always a highlight for me taking the group shot for each new series.
First Dates fans amongst you will spot one particularly important detail in this photograph… look at who is sitting on the bar, with her hand on Merlin’s shoulder:
LAURA IS BACK!
This is big news for me because I’ve been watching First Dates since it was filmed at the Paternoster Chop House in London many many years ago, which featured Waitress Laura Tott. Viewers really fell for her, especially with the lovely rapport she has with Cici. It’s great to see her back, and it brings back memories of those earlier series.
It’s funny how television programmes become part of your viewing habits over the years. You get to know the people involved, recognise familiar faces and become accustomed to seeing them as part of the show. So, when someone returns after a while away, it feels like welcoming back an old friend.
Welcome back, Laura! It was lovely working with you.
I’m really pleased with how the new group shot has come together, and it’s great to have a photograph that brings everyone together for the launch of the series.
Laura Tott, first on the left here next to Gerald, Cici, Merlin and Kyle.
New portraits of Fred Sirieix
As part of the portrait session this time, I introduced (found) a red balloon which nicely symbolises the First Dates mission statement! I thought it’d be nice to have Fred featured with it.
It’s always a total pleasure photographing Fred. He’s such an important part of First Dates, and over the years he’s become one of the most recognisable faces on British television.
As the maître d’ of the First Dates restaurant, Fred is there to welcome the daters, offer a few words of encouragement and help them settle in before they meet their date. He’s become synonymous with the programme, and it’s difficult to imagine First Dates without him.
For this series, we’ve also got a new portrait of Fred taken on the balcony. Portrait photography is something I really enjoy. You can have all the technical equipment in the world, but ultimately you’re trying to create a photograph that works for the person in front of the camera. Fred is always a pleasure to work with.
Meryl Williams – from The Traitors to First Dates
Finally, the first episode has another highlight, this time in the form of Meryl Williams, the winner of the first civilian series of The Traitors.
For those who watched the first series of The Traitors, Meryl will need no introduction. She was one of the Faithful alongside Aaron Evans and Hannah Byczkowski, and the three of them became a memorable part of that first series.
The Traitors is a very different sort of television experience from First Dates, of course. Instead of trying to work out who could be trusted around the round table, the First Dates restaurant is all about meeting new people and seeing whether there might be a romantic spark.
It’s always interesting to see familiar television personalities turn up in a completely different programme, and Meryl’s appearance is another reason to tune in to tonight’s episode.
For more information, you can read the article here: The Mirror – The Traitors star Meryl Williams.
I’m pleased to have photographed Meryl for the new series, and it’s great to be able to include her photograph alongside the other images from tonight’s episode.
Behind the scenes of First Dates photography
Although viewers see the dates themselves on screen, there’s plenty of work that goes on around a television production to help promote the finished programme. Photography is an important part of that, providing images for press articles, publicity, websites and social media.
The photographs need to work in a variety of places, whether they’re being used alongside a newspaper article, on a television website or in a post announcing the return of the series.
It’s also a nice feeling when you see one of your photographs being used to promote a programme that so many people watch. You spend time creating the images, and then, a few months later, you start to see them appearing as the new series approaches.
This time around, it’s been particularly nice to see the coverage featuring Dani Babes, the excitement around Laura’s return and share the new photographs of Fred and the group.
And, of course, I wouldn’t have known about Dani’s huge TikTok following if my daughter hadn’t pointed it out to me!
Watch the new series tonight
The new series of First Dates starts tonight, Wednesday 28th October 2026, on Channel 4.
I’m looking forward to seeing the new series on screen and finding out how everyone gets on. With Dani Babes, Meryl Williams and the return of some familiar faces, there’s plenty for First Dates fans to look forward to.
It’s always a pleasure to be involved with the photography for the programme, and I’m very grateful to everyone involved for making it such an enjoyable project.
If you’re watching tonight, keep an eye out for the new photographs, and do let me know what you think!
And if you’re looking for a photographer for portraits, publicity, television, commercial work or events, you can find more of my photography on my website:
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the new series of First Dates!
p.s. there is one huge secret about this series which I can’t tell, but will do once the episode comes out!
