Cavan man features as First Dates returns

First Dates returns to RTÉ2 on Thursday, January 4.

A love hopeful from Cavan will feature when TV's First Dates returns to Irish television screens later this week.

James (27) certainly won't be alone, with producers pairing him as “wingman” to flirty Stephen (28) from Athlone, for the first double date of the series.

The Cavan-Athlone dating axis go all Iceman and Maverick in a combined bid to impress feisty Jade (26) from Newry who is on date with Stephen, and “self-confessed ‘cheeky monkey’” Siobhan (24) from Mayo who meets local lad James for the first time.

First Dates returns to RTÉ2 on Thursday, January 4, at 9.35pm for its ninth series.

Joining maître D' Mateo Saina, are barman Neil Kenna, and waiters Alice and Pete, who help set the scene and give romance the best possible chance to flourish at The Gibson Hotel's Coda Eatery.

Others daters to appear on the same episode are sassy barista Hansun (24) from Louth - under the watchful eye of his even sassier drag alter-ego Pluto – who meets happy go lucky Ciaran (24) from Dublin whose idea of perfection is a can in the shower.

Tired of being the only unmarried dairy farmer in Killorglin, Tom (41) steps meanwhile outside his comfort zone to meet Dutch life coach Elly (32) from Killarney. Nervous about making an entrance, she hopes she won’t fall. He hopes she will.