BBC to air disastrous First Dates episode as Fred Sirieix steps in
CBBC is set to air its own spin on Channel 4's First Dates, and viewers are in for a wild ride.
Fred Sirieix, known for hosting the beloved dating show, is guest starring in BBC's new children's comedy, Horrible Science. The fifteen-episode series is helmed by the BAFTA-winning team behind Horrible Histories, which featured iconic sketches about real historical figures.
In a similar vein, this new series treats viewers to comical sketches with a focus on scientific topics. In episode eight, Fred steps into his well-known role and hosts 'Scientific First Dates,' which he introduces by stating: "The world may often seem cold and hard, but there is beauty and romance to be found."
Tying in with the show's theme, this segment revolves around animals' mating rituals, which the first dater believes will help him find his perfect match.
Liam is introduced as an animal lover, who has been studying wild courtship rituals ahead of the dinner date. As soon as he meets his new match, Kayleigh, he makes his first bizarre move.
He offers her pebbles and instructs her to choose a favourite. While it comes across as strange, the courtship ritual is actually common among Adélie penguins, but naturally, Kayleigh is less than impressed by the offer.
She quickly fires back: "I don't suppose you know any penguins that present their partners with chocolates?"
Unfazed by his partner's reaction, Liam springs into a new ritual, this time it's a bird dance. He explains the courtship tradition, saying: "Well, the blue-capped cordon-bleu bird impresses its date by bobbing, singing and tapping its feet so fast, you can't see the move"
Before Kayleigh can even respond, Fred rushes to the rescue, calling attention to a different ritual that had fallen under the radar.
"Sorry to interrupt but we've had a complaint about the smell," says the maître d, prompting Liam to reveal: "That's me, I weed on my head, like a billy goat trying to impress a nanny goat."
The dinner spirals into even more chaos as Liam admits that he also pooed in the restaurant, mimicking male hippos' unusual mating ritual. However, despite the odd date, Kayleigh is charmed by her date's effort and accepts to see him again for a second date.
Fans of Fred's First Dates antics are in for a treat with the new BBC show, which premieres tonight on CBBC. The 53-year-old has cameos in episodes three, eight and eleven, all of which feature different dating disasters.
Horrible Science premieres tonight at 5pm on CBBC. The entire series is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
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