Relationships Talk

First Dates barman Ethan Miles has charmed viewers and daters alike on the RTE show – but he insists he has never gone on a date with any of the singletons who didn’t find a match on the series.

The 35-year-old Canadian confirmed he is single, but said he would not go looking for love on the show.

“At the end of the day, I’m not there for that,” he said. “I don’t get involved in that. I’m there for a role.”

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When participants head into the First Dates restaurant in the Gibson Hotel, they are greeted by maitre d’ Mateo Saina who takes them to the bar where they can get a drink from Ethan.

Along with waitress Alice Marr, Ethan has become a popular addition to the show and often helps put people at ease before their date in front of the camera.

“They took a chance on me. Before I was on the show, I was in bars for a long time. I was in the UK before Ireland and the US, the cultural mix is interesting,” he said.

Ethan, who works in bars away from the cameras and has also acted, told how his number one piece of advice for anyone going on the show would be to relax and not treat the date too seriously.

“They think too much. A date is not a job interview.

“Now with the dating apps and all that, it’s hard to meet people spontaneously,” he said.

“It’s always interesting when people don’t think too much. They just show up and they’re relaxed.

“I don’t want to butt in too much because it’s not my place.”

Having taken part in the show since the first episode, Ethan has paid close attention to the drinks the daters ordered and found that mojitos and whiskey sours are the beverages of choice for many of the participants.

Ethan is not sure what he would be like if he was a dater on the show, but can understand why some of the people who go on the show are so nervous when they come to see him at the bar.

“I think the short answer, is, luckily, we will never know. I’m pretty comfortable but it all depends on the person next to you. If she’s cool, yeah. I try to put myself in their shoes and I can see why it would be pretty nerve-wracking,” he told the Herald.

applications

First Dates Ireland has aired three series and is currently accepting applications for the fourth, which is expected to air early next year.

Coco Television, the production company behind the show, recently issued calls for more older men to apply and they are also looking to receive applications from more LGBT contestants.

Ethan was speaking at the launch of the HB Iceberger bar. The airstream van will visit Dublin on Saturday July 21 from 12pm to 4pm at Barnados Square, Dame Street.

Herald