Blind date: ‘I warned him if he was less than complimentary, my girls would hunt him down’
Trisha on Neil
What were you hoping for?
Konstantin meets Villanelle.
First impressions?
Tall, handsome, closet ginger Glaswegian, a tad nervous, but it would have been odd not to be.
What did you talk about?
Zen and neuroscience. Men’s Sheds and what an awesome organisation it is. Theatre. Music. Our children. DNA and secret siblings. Liverpool v Glasgow (no brainer). Whether or not the waiter had taken a shine to Neil. The perils of silent retreats. Women’s football. Changing careers. People wearing blankets … We talked a lot!
Most awkward moment?
I couldn’t connect to Uber, so Neil sorted my lift, which meant he had to get the bus home.
Good table manners?
Yes, despite having to tackle the world’s largest lamb shank.
Best thing about Neil?
No one thing – great guy, great company.
Blind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running 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 type of person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions cover everything you would 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 you a bit 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 would love to hear from people living elsewhere.
How to apply
Email blind.date@theguardian.com
Would you introduce Neil to your friends?
Yes, you could drop him in anywhere.
Describe Neil in three words
Heartfelt, theatrical, wise.
What do you think Neil made of you?
No idea, but I did warn him that if he was less than complimentary my girls would hunt him down.
Did you go on somewhere?
No, Manchester was closed by the time they threw us out of the restaurant.
And … did you kiss?
Politely.
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Wouldn’t change anything.
Marks out of 10?
We debated that: it was agreed I would post a 9.
Would you meet again?
We talked about going to a concert, so let’s see …
Neil on Trisha
What were you hoping for?
A fun-filled evening talking about life, death and the universe while knocking back cocktails and laughing at life’s absurdities. Always a potent mix.
First impressions?
Relaxed, confident and attractive. Good eye contact helped get us off to a promising start. Loved her cool flying jacket.
What did you talk about?
Everything and anything. Surprisingly, it was less about yoga and meditation and more about our adventures as ex-clubbers and gig lovers. We love Prince, but I trumped everything because I saw Bob Marley live.
Most awkward moment?
When Trisha said she’d asked for a Konstantin-type from Killing Eve. I told her I’d only asked for personal qualities like being vivacious and big-hearted, so I teased her that I now had the moral high ground. Mic drop.
Good table manners?
I didn’t notice as the meal was a blur of laughter and great anecdotes.
Best thing about Trisha?
Her ability to be open, to connect and have a damn good time.
Would you introduce Trisha to your friends?
Absolutely: my Glaswegian friends in particular would appreciate her Liverpudlian nous.
Describe Trisha in three words
Vivacious, playful, big-hearted.
Related: Blind date: ‘I spilled salsa roja down my cleavage. He looked away as I cleaned it off. Gentleman’
What do you think Trisha made of you?
That maybe I talked too much at the beginning, but then we cracked on well and she said she’d had a great time.
Did you go on somewhere?
We would have, but we were last out and it was late.
And … did you kiss?
As a genteel chap it’s not for me to reveal. Let’s just say we kept her Uber driver waiting.
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
I went way over the allocated drinks budget. Being Glaswegian that’s an occupational hazard, but it was worth it.
Marks out of 10?
A splendid, shiny 9. Could have been higher if Trisha had kept her, um, drooling Konstantin fantasy out of polite conversation.
Would you meet again?
We are. Trisha has invited me to a music event in a couple of weeks in Manchester.
Trisha and Neil ate at The Black Friar in Salford. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com
