Passions ignite once more as young hearts, lively suitors and slow burners come together for a smouldering new series of First Dates.

Homebird Emily from Waterford comes in search of her ‘lobster’ but will she end up holding claws with travel enthusiast Corey from Cork?

In the third episode of the series, daters include a rock musician from Dublin and a basketball player from Cork who are looking for love.

Mateo welcomes Michael from Dublin who, at 81 years old, is the oldest dater ever in the restaurant. Will this master gardener cultivate the attention of elegant and independent Lorraine from Tullamore?

Countdown contestant Edward from Dublin meets bisexual student Ria from Kildare. But will they get the letters; l,o,v, e on their board?

This week, Washington from Brazil describes himself as a ‘plastic Paddy’ but what will he make of the real thing as ginger bearded James from Dublin arrives as his date?

Dania from Dublin is looking for a well dressed man who ‘smells amazing’, but will Chris from Manchester meet her aromatic expectations?

Accidental cat-fishing, enthusiastic high fives and tattoos are the order of the day in the loved-up restaurant.

Comedian Edwin Sammon, aka Fr Gabriel from RTÉ 2’s “Bridget and Eamon”, flies in from the Edinburgh festival hoping his date with physical therapist Emer from Athlone is no laughing matter.

Taxi-driver Paul, 49, sported dyed blonde hair and bad teeth when he first visited the restaurant two years ago. He overcame his fear of dentists and now has brand new smile.

Final in series. It’s double trouble when father and daughter Richie and Laura from Tipperary come looking for love. Creche manager Laura dates Malaysian chef Harvinder from Galway while Richie charms bookies clerk Maura from Cavan by serenading her over dinner.

As another season of love draws to a close, we revisit some of the most memorable dates. There'll be perfect matches, awkward mix-ups, heart-warming moments, romantic non-sequiturs and inevitable door malfunctions.

Memorable dates of the series, featuring perfect matches, awkward mix-ups, heart-warming moments, romantic non-sequiturs and inevitable door malfunctions. Last in the series.

Series six kicks off, with Maitre d' Mateo, master-mixologist Ethan, plus Alice and Pete at the ready for a group of new hopefuls searching for love.

Former Dancing with the Stars and Big Brother contestant, Hughie Maughan, finds himself on a date with Paul, and is hoping to leave with a dancing partner rather than doing a solo routine. And could it be game on when Gabrielle from Dublin embarks on a voyage of discovery with adventurous Shamrock Rovers groundskeeper John?

Nurse Carla comes to the restaurant looking for someone to ‘have a laugh with’ only to be dumbstruck by tattooed bad boy Shez from Dundalk

Among the hopefuls this week are Mary and Johnny from Tipperary, who are looking for a second chance at love, and two hairdressers who are hoping their date is a cut above the rest.

Keen to seize the day, 75-year-old Marie from Meath waltzes into the arms of dapper 79-year-old dancer Denis from Kildare. And Impressively mohawked Phil rocks up to the restaurant on a skateboard hoping to rom-com his way into the heart of ultra-positive musician Rebecca.

Struggling with pre-date nerves, garden designer Anthony from Tipperary blossoms in the excitable presence of chef Mandy from Wexford. And Chris from Belfast is hoping to maximise his assets with tax official Ben.

Martina from Limerick returns to the restaurant for a second chance at finding love, while 24-year-old Denis from Dublin goes on a date with 21-year-old psychology student Amy.

Rob from Dublin meets Abby from Wollongong in Australia, and affable Dublin taxi driver Alan attempts to woo confident self-made woman Pauline from Cavan.

David, a 27-year-old from Limerick, comes looking for a girl to rule his heart, and gets a right royal treat in the form of reigning Miss Cork, Zoe, who is 25.

Insurance salesman Dolapo, who is 29 and from Dublin, is set up with 27-year-old Maria from Cork. Elsewhere, nutrition student Aisling goes on a date with former footballer Conor, and 35-year-old Lain returns to the restaurant for the third time with some big news to share. Supermarket manager Margaret from Dublin is set up with Gerry, a company director from Mayo. Elsewhere, 23-year-old Aran from Dublin meets 20-year-old Kirsty from Dungarvan, and gymnast Luke goes on a date with flight attendant Miriam.

Mateo and the team return for series eight, as more hopefuls keen to find romance enter the First Dates restaurant.

Eight more hopefuls enter the Restaurant of Romance, under the watchful eyes of Mateo, Alice, Pete, and Neil.

A fresh sitting of daters arrives to sample the food of love, but now the tables are intimate and the masks are off. On hand, as always, is Maitre'D Mateo.

A fresh sitting of daters arrives to sample the food of love, but unlike last year, the tables are intimate and the masks are off. On hand, as always is Maitre'D Mateo.

Phil, 65, is hoping to repeat the success that her daughter Carla had two years ago in the restaurant. Carla matched with Shez and is now engaged. Phil is hoping to be as engaged by Stan, 69, from Galway.

Mateo, Alice, Neil and Pete meet a new bunch of daters and watch romance blossom in the Restaurant of Romance.

Aisling, 23, from Galway meets her date Lochlainn, 23, from Armagh while former `Ireland's Got Talent' contestant Gary, 35, from Tipperary meets model Cherry, 32, from Cavan.

A Thursday night special as the Restaurant of Romance reopens, serving up spice and sizzle.

Strongman John, 34, from Mayo enters the restaurant with his guns on show trying to impress Renata, 37, from Galway who's an artillery gunner in the Irish Army Reserves.

Maître d' Mateo, assisted by Alice and Pete, and cocktail maestro Neil are ready to go back to some of the most memorable matchups of 2022.

It's a special date night in the restaurant of love as Mateo welcomes back some of the successful couples from previous years.

Singletons from far and wide hope to find their forever love in the restaurant of romance.

In the First Dates restaurant relishing each other’s spicy flavour, Megan from North Carolina and retired quantity surveyor Aidan from Dublin get good and saucy over dinner.

Looking for love in the restaurant of romance this week, Stan – the restaurant’s oldest ever dater – celebrates his 86th birthday with returning 80-year-old dater Lorraine.

Makeup artist Ariana from Meath gets to grips with cheeky Venetian wrestler Josh from Tallaght.

Hoping to find their forever love, this week in the restaurant of romance, Liam from Belfast meets hairdresser Conor from Monaghan and Becky from Kilkenny meets Aaron from Wexford.

Presenter and comedian Bláithín from Dublin meets fellow Gaeilgeoir Mary from Kilkenny in this First Dates Valentine's Day Special.

In the First Dates restaurant this week, retired electrician Billy from Crumlin meets returning dater Maureen from Usher’s Quay.

Musical theatre fan Oweny is impressed with bubbly Katie and TikToker Raven casts her spell and convinces student Conor to try oysters for the first time

Musical theatre fan Oweny is impressed with bubbly Katie and TikToker Raven casts her spell and convinces student Conor to try oysters for the first time

Restaurant employee Kevin has a blind date with ex-wedding planner Gabo and Blackrock student Aoife hits the back of the net with former QPR goalie Harry from Shankill

Confident Chris unleashes his charm on flirtatious singer Minnie, chef and jokester Mark sits down with nurse Jill, and David from Swords meets restaurateur Shane from Monkstown

Pat from Wicklow enjoys his first blind date, with yoga teacher Catherine from Dublin, and a would-be stand-up meets an aspiring singer-songwriter - both of whom are nervous daters

Maître d' Mateo and his staff present the first of two programmes looking back at memorable match-ups from the series.

Maître d' Mateo and his staff present the second of two programmes looking back at memorable match-ups from the series.