First Dates Ireland’s head waiter Alice Marr revealed eager fans beg her to help get them on the show - including her own dad.
The Co. Clare based star has been a stalwart on the RTE matchmaking series since it began in 2015, after she was scouted by a producer whilst she was working at a bar and restaurant in Dublin.
Over the past seven years she has been witness to hundreds of dates, and told how many of her friends and family now want her to play cupid for them too.
“There’s always like ‘ah you need to get my brother on the show’ or ‘get me on’ it is very funny,” she told Irish Daily Mirror.
“I am just like ‘tell them to apply’ because I actually want to encourage people to go on because it is such a nice show.
“And they are really not going to embarrass people or make fun of them.
“But I actually think it is a great thing to do if you are struggling in love.
“And at least it is an experience to tell on your next date if it doesn’t work out.
“My dad has threatened to go on quite a few times,” she added, laughing.
“But he has never applied, I don’t know if I would [like that]. It would definitely be challenging.. Only because it would be hard to maintain my professionalism.
“I’m sure I’d be laughing and kind of cringing the whole way through.”
The Dubliner, who is currently living with her boyfriend in Lahinch, where she recently worked as an assistant director and researcher on RTE’s Smother, says she has huge respect for anyone who signs up for the dating show - admitting she would be nervous herself.
“I think it is really brave of people to do it,” she said.”
Asked if she would take the plunge herself when she was a singleton, she went on: “I would.. I haven’t ended up at that stage.
“But I have done my fair share of dating in Dublin so I know the kind of ups and downs of it. To put it mildly.”
“But I have so much respect for everyone that goes on it because it is so vulnerable to do it.”
She added: “In this current culture we don’t do first dates where we have a full meal, we get a coffee, or have a drink or something. But we don’t generally do that. So even more so, it is even more unknown or uncomfortable.
“So, it is a big one for people to do.”
- First Dates Ireland airs on RTE 2 on Thursday 9.30pm.
