First Dates Hotel: Merlin Griffiths gets his Tarot cards read

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First airing on TV screens back in 2013, viewers have watched the First Dates team help singletons find love. Now with its equally popular spin-off show First Dates Hotel in its seventh series, fan favourite Merlin Griffiths told Express.co.uk what it’s like being part of the show for so long.

Over the years, many waiters and waitresses have starred in the show as they help the diners feel at ease on their blind dates.

However, there are a few regular returning faces on the First Dates team that have struck up their own fanbase with viewers.

From Maitre d’ Fred Siriex who leads the team, waitresses Laura Tott and Cici Colemen and the friendly bartender Merlin who’s one of the first faces guests at the restaurant see.

With the show airing for 10 years next June, Merlin paid tribute to his colleagues who he referred to as his extended family.

When asked what it’s like starring in a popular show for such a long time he said: “Honestly, it’s part of my life now.

“I couldn’t imagine life without First Dates. It’s utterly brilliant!
 
“These days it’s almost like having a little extended family, it’s wonderful.”

Touching on why he continues to return to both shows every year, Merlin admitted that aside from the fact he sees his co-stars as family, there’s another reason.

He added: “I do it because I genuinely enjoy it. It is a lot of fun, a massive amount of fun.

“You do it for the people, the drinks per se don’t actually matter.

“What actually matters is the service, it’s the people.”

Currently, the seventh series of First Dates Hotel is well underway with viewers tuning in each week to see Merlin and the team help people find love abroad.

Speaking about the guests viewers can expect to see throughout this series, Merlin called them all wonderful as he shared some people’s backstories.

He said: “There’s a chef, a teacher, we’ve got a world record holder, a psychotherapist, a spider collector, animal lovers, dancers.

“Some of them single for a week, others for a lifetime but they’re all there for one thing.”

First Dates Hotel continues Tuesdays on Channel 4 from 9:30pm

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