Preston barber Danny gets second bite at First Date experience

The 31-year-old from Cottam, who owns Danny's Barbershop in Cadley Causeway, Fulwood, appeared on Tuesday's episode, where he dated a singer called Abbie, but they failed to hit it off.

In a twist at the end of the programme, it was revealed he'll also be on next week's episode with another diner who preferred the look of him over her date.

His appearance has been covered in national newspapers and on internet magazines as Danny has been known as 'fish and ricecakes guy' since appearing on BBC Three documentary called Baby Faced Bodybuilders.

In it he described his frugal diet and exercise routine, which has since gone viral on social media and has been used in countless memes.

"It's been crazy, the reaction now", said Danny. "I've even been offered the chance to go on a TV panel show and get paid for it."

"I need to look into it all properly though first. I've always shied away from all that kind of stuff because it's always been negative for me.

"But the First Dates experience has been positive so far. People have had this pre-conceived idea about me - that I'm thick - based on a clip of me as a 16-year-old.

"I'm actually now a 31-year-old businessman and hopefully this will help put all the fishcake and rice stuff to bed. People will see who I am now."

Danny said he only applied to go on the show because it was a chance to go out for a meal and a drink during the first lockdown in March last year. Filmed in Manchester, he and the other participants were put up in hotels and tested before appearing on the show.

He said: "I was so nervous the first time. I get nervous on a date anyway, so this really amplified it.

"I was over-thinking everything, like how to walk."

Danny said he didn't mention his internet notoriety to the producers, but was asked about it by researchers on the show.

He said: "When they filmed the heart section (the piece away from the restaurant), they asked if I told dates about it. I said 'do I heck!'

"Why would I want to mention it? Nobody would want someone looking at a video of them from the age of 16.

"But then during the meal this waiter kept coming over saying "I know you from somewhere". I knew what he was trying to do, and I must have shooed him away three times.

"In the end I just said to the girl what it was about. But the way they've edited it, it looks like I just blurted it out."

His date decided not to take things any further with him, but Lauren, a nursery nurse on a date with someone else that evening had taken a liking to him, and producers invited them both back for a date together.

Danny, who moved to Preston from Barrow 11 years ago, said the second date was much less awkward.

He said: "I was much less nervous and was able to be myself. I didn't have anything to drink before I got there and only about two pints the whole night.

"I didn't mention the fish and rice cakes thing to her at all on that date."

To find out how the date went, view First Dates on Channel Four at 10pm on Tuesday, February 2.