First Dates fans were raging last night as they realised a staple part of the show did not return with the beginning of the new series.
Fred, Merlin, CiCi and the other familiar faces of the restaurant staff all seemed to be present and correct, as was the latest contender for ‘most awkward date ever’.
But viewers were despondent and even a little frantic to discover the ‘what happened next’ segment from the end of the show, usually seen before the preview for the next week’s show and the end credits, appears to have been canned.
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Instead of an update informing those watching whether or not two daters met up again or not, viewers saw further short excerpts from three couples’ post-date debriefs.
And although all three highlighted pairings seemed to get on – even if it looked like divorcée Mandy made more of a romantic match than her ex husband Stuart – there weren’t any traces of grainy mobile phone footage showing further meet ups or details of relationship developments as expected.
Twitter was not happy, with one furious viewer ranting: “Which wise [bleep] thought it would be great to cut that out?”
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“#Bringthemback,” one viewer demanded, while another said the round up at the end of the show was the ‘best bit’.
Others admitted they were stumped at why the segment would be changed and insisted the pay off of finding out whether dates had progressed away from the cameras was vital for those watching.
That wasn’t a proper update! Did any of the couples see each other again? Why have they changed it?! #FirstDates
— Marissa Thomas ⚽ (@marissatom16) April 4, 2018
Great to see @firstdates back on @channel4 but please put the ‘What Happened Next’ captions back at the end of the show. It’s not the same without them – we’ve invested an hour in these dates and want to know whether they work out! #FirstDates
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisActor) April 5, 2018
There were even calls for the TV boss in charge of dropping the segment to be fired… or exiled to Channel 5…
Sack the bright spark who decided to scrap the updates at the end!!?? That’s what we want to see! Omg I’m so annoyed right now!! #firstdates
— Nina Pierro (@Ninapi1) April 4, 2018
@FirstDates What happened next? Bring this part at the end back please? Whoever decided to remove it needs banishing to channel 5…
— Dan Henshaw (@danhenshaw1977) April 5, 2018
But we doubt Fred can do much about it. He’s got enough on his plate standing by the door, taking coats and being incredibly French.
So whose idea was that – no updates at the end? Duhhh. Some bright spark at @FirstDates got that horribly wrong. Get it sorted @fredsirieix1 old boy! #FirstDates
— Gavin Willacy (@gavinwillacy) April 4, 2018
Entertainment Daily has contacted Channel 4 for comment.
Me when they don’t tell you if the people meet up again after there date #FirstDates pic.twitter.com/ZwlB0L6jnf
— Gaz (@__TWIGS__) April 4, 2018
First dates is all about the bit at the end when you find out what happened next!! Where has that gone?!? #firstdates pic.twitter.com/vqk8ngo4Kz
— Emily Winters (@EmEWinters) April 4, 2018
First Dates is on Channel 4, Wednesdays, from 10pm.
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