From secret journalist to cancelled weddings, inside Blind Date’s most shocking moments as Maura Higgins to host reboot

OVER its nearly two-decade run on ITV, Blind Date had its fair share of headline-grabbing moments. Presented by legendary presenter Cilla Black, the dating show defined Saturday night entertainment for millions of families across the UK. Iconic Blind Date host Cilla Black was at the helm on the popular ITV show from 1985 to 2003 Credit: Handout Maura Higgins is stepping into Cilla’s shoes as she looks set to front a Blind Date reboot Credit: Getty However, beneath the lighthearted catchphrases and the famous sliding screen, the show produced some of British television’s most infamous and awkward broadcasting moments. While the show ended in 2003 – followed by a brief revival with Paul O’Grady between 2017 and 2019 – it could be making a comeback. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! Love Island star Maura Higgins, 35, is said to be poised to sign to host a reboot with Disney+, and is due to start filming this year. It comes as glamourous Maura’s profile has soared both in Britain and across the Atlantic, where she has appeared on The Traitors US and Love Island USA. Ahead of it coming back, we’ve rounded up some of the most controversial moments of the original Blind Date, which pulled in up to 17 million viewers at its peak… Love triangle Contestant Cali ended up ditching her match Alexi for fellow hopeful Barry Credit: Channel 5 In 2020, Blind Date hopeful Cali ended up picking former Love Island star Alexi Eraclides as her date, and they jetted off to South Africa. Separately, contestants Barry and Cherry matched together, and they went to Cuba in the hopes of finding love. As the couples returned to the studio, Paul discovered that Cali and Barry were seeing each other. Most read in Fabulous Prompted by Paul, Cali said: “Me and Barry started talking and we kinda just bumped into each other in the corridor.” Barry gave Cali his number as they were staying in the same Travelodge – with him later telling Paul she was an “absolute sweetheart.” Host Paul commented: “This is all getting a bit much for me, I’m too old for all of this.” Asking Alexi what he thought about Cali switching partners, he said: “I knew she wasn’t innocent anyway.” Closeted contestants Aristocrat Count Roberto Luigi Michieli appeared on the show in 2014 Credit: ITV The flamboyant star later confirmed he was gay Credit: instagram/CountRobertoLuigiMichieli During its original run, the show didn’t have any openly gay contestants. One gay man who played it straight on the show was the flamboyant Count Roberto Luigi Michieli in 1994. The then 29-year-old wowed Cilla and audiences with his coiffured hair, bronzed tan and red coat-tails. Later, the aristocrat, who hailed from Venice, confirmed his sexual orientation was actually gay. Saint Lucia fiasco Viewers were stunned when Jordan and Jesse were packed off to Saint Lucia on their holidays – where being gay is illegal The rebooted show finally introduced its first bisexual male contestants in 2019. However, it sparked controversy when male couple Jordan Shannon and Jesse Drew were sent to Saint Lucia where homosexuality is illegal and risks a 10-year jail sentence. Presenter Paul O’Grady seemed unaware when he told them they’d be sent to the paradise island and they were delighted with their luck. But Jordan later told the Daily Star he was only told of the blunder on the way to their hotel and said: “I didn’t know this until I was told on the way to the hotel. I thought, ‘What the f***?’” And Jesse couldn’t relax after security advised him of island rules. He added: “The hotel security woman told me how most gay men were in the closet there as homosexuality is illegal. It’s 10 years in prison if caught. A Channel 5 spokesperson said: “We didn’t know and are taking this up with the production company.” Jordan and Jesse returned safely to the UK following the tense trip. Undercover journalist Cosmopolitan writer Nicola Gill went on the show to write about her experience, and ended up on a date with Paul Credit: ITV Nicola wrote about feeling ‘sick’ as audiences booed her when the truth came out Credit: Facebook In 1997, an undercover journalist was outed by Cilla on national television for “cheating” one of her Blind Daters out of a chance at love. Cosmopolitan writer Nicola Gill lied to producers by claiming she was a secretary, and chose singleton Paul as someone she’d like to couple up with. The pair spent time together on the Isle of Skye and were invited back to discuss how their time had gone. However, Cilla had a surprise in store for Nicola, telling her: “I know what you’re at… and I feel awfully deeply saddened by this. “You don’t work as a temporary secretary. I know for a fact that you are an undercover journalist, and you’ve robbed somebody of coming on a proper blind date. “You work for Cosmopolitan magazine. She’s a journalist, ladies and gentlemen. Not a Blind Dater at all.” Cilla then asked Nicola if she had a partner back home – which she denied – but a text on-screen declared: “Nicola later admitted she is engaged to be married in June”. In her article that followed, Nicola wrote of the moment: “Paul looks stunned. I feel sick. “The studio is spinning. The audience is booing. All I can do is keep smiling, mumble about the fantastic time I’ve had and wait for this TV hell to end.” Broken engagements Andrea Tongue and Piers Liron got engaged after the show, but broke it off before getting married Credit: ITV The lovebirds ended their engagement after just two months Credit: ITV It seemed that teacher Andrea Tongue, 26, had found a match made in heaven with fellow contestant RAF dental assistant Piers Liron, 31, after they met on the show. Things went so well that Andrea was planning on leaving her job in Shropshire to move down to Piers’ base in Fife. After sparks flew, Piers got down on one knee and popped the question with a diamond and ruby engagement ring. Cilla was said to be top of the wedding guest list for their big day – but it didn’t go according to plan. Less than two months later, they went their separate ways. Date from hell While Adam seemed smitten with Debs behind the curtain, after he saw he things went downhill Credit: ITV While attraction seemed to be there for Adam and Debs behind the famous curtain, everything changed when they came face-to-face. Seeing his match for the first time, an upset Adam said: “When the screen went back when I first saw Debs, I thought she had a nice figure which is good because I only date size eights. “But she wasn’t blonde so I was a bit disappointed.” When they set off for their date together, Adam was less than complimentary about his match. He said: “After the show, Debs and I went for a meal and she kept stroking my leg so I knew she fancied me. “But I didn’t pursue it because with a face like hers, I knew I’d live to regret it.” When they were invited back onto the show, Cilla discovered that Adam had been flirting with other women during their date. A fed-up Cilla even told Adam to “shut up”, before telling him, “I’ve had enough of you now.” Cilla’s surprise live resignation Cilla announced she was quitting during a live show without informing the production team Credit: ITV Cilla shocked fans in 2003 when she made a live announcement to millions of viewers that she’d be leaving the show. She not only shocked viewers but ITV executives too, as she hadn’t warned the production team beforehand. She said: “Over New Year I thought a lot about what I wanted to do in 2003, and decided that it was the right time to move on from Blind Date. “All good things come to an end and the show deserves to finish on a high and be remembered as a success. “Now I’m looking forward to a year filled with exciting new challenges. I have had great fun for 18 years and would like to thank everyone involved in the show.” Paul Jackson, the director of entertainment at Granada, said: “This has been entirely Cilla’s decision and we completely respect her for it. “We would like to thank Cilla for giving us 18 fantastic years. We wish Cilla nothing but success for the future – it is certainly the end of an era.” Other controversial Blind Date contestants from over the years David Smith & Charlotte Harrisson: After winning a luxury date to Nepal in 1997, Charlotte refused to get on the plane. David ended up going on the once-in-a-lifetime tropical trip alone, comically posing with an elephant in place of his missing date. Jon Wiltshire: Known for his unique headwear, Jon holds the unique title of being the only contestant to win a date twice (in 1996 and 2013) after returning for a 2013 special show. However, it didn’t always go according to plan, with his initial date branding him a “complete nerd.” Geoff Carte: In 1989, Geoff stood out for his quirky personality, colourful patchwork trousers, and for his rather unusual prop. He carried a Sooty puppet onto the set to meet his date. Simon Gatenby: A trendy vicar from Bolton sparked curiosity by looking for love on national television in 1995. Matched with an ex-kissogram named Polly, the pair didn’t find romance, but built a lasting lifelong friendship. Comment now