‘Blind Date paired me with a future TV presenter’

From its first broadcast on 30 November 1985, Blind Date was one of the most popular programmes on Saturday night TV.

Presented by Cilla Black it ran for 18 years until 2003, with a reboot in 2017 fronted by Paul O’Grady.

Now, Blind Date is set for a relaunch on Disney+, “reimagined for a contemporary audience” according to the streaming site.

Mr Michaelas said: “Cilla was absolutely amazing. She really was.

“She just had this way of calming you down and relaxing you.

“It was a good experience for youngsters and I would recommend it to others.”

The chip shop owner said he was still recognised after more than 30 years.

“I get people coming into the shop saying ‘you’re that fellow that was on Blind Date’. And we laugh.”