Since its inception, First Dates has welcomed nearly 23,000 singles seeking a partner across more than 11,400 dates held in the restaurant; ten weddings; 13 babies born from relationships formed on the show; and thousands of encounters that have showcased love in all its forms, promoting a message of tolerance, respect and normalisation. These are the key milestones that define the successful journey of the programme, which celebrates its tenth anniversary on 25 March on Telecinco with a special primetime edition.
New moments featuring some of the show’s most iconic singles — participants whose stories went viral, couples who are still together after meeting on the programme, and familiar faces returning to settle unfinished business where it all began — alongside testimonials from both well-known and everyday individuals sharing their perspective on the First Dates phenomenon, with a particular focus on its social and television impact over the past decade; and a look back at the most memorable moments that have transcended the screen, will form the key ingredients of this 10th anniversary special.
Ten years of love on screen
Since its launch in 2016, First Dates — produced by Mediaset España with Warner Bros. ITVP Spain — has showcased love through a lens of tolerance and the normalisation of all forms of emotional expression, offering a respectful environment for those seeking a partner and demonstrating that love knows no labels, gender, age or condition.
Carlos Sobera, the charismatic maître d’ of the First Dates restaurant, together with the team — including bartender Matías Roure and waitresses Lidia Santos and twins Marisa and Cristina Zapata — lead a programme crew made up of over a hundred professionals across editorial, production and technical departments. In every episode, they dedicate their energy to ensuring that participants can fully and naturally experience their time on the show, where 26 robotic cameras and eight fixed cameras capture gestures, conversations and interactions without interfering in the flow of the dates.
Over its ten-year history, First Dates has paid tribute to love through a wide range of themed specials: some editions have marked key calendar moments such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Halloween, Carnival, Pride or the arrival of summer with the opening of its Beach Club; others have offered second chances at love, such as Second Dates, Second Chances, Third Dates for returning participants, or Ex Dates, which aimed to reunite former couples; some episodes have featured themed evenings such as Dolls, Superheroes, Regional Costumes or Pyjama Party; others have been driven by surprise and the desire to fall in love, such as Blind Dates or Love at First Sight; while in some editions gastronomy has taken centre stage alongside the diners, such as By the Bite, where participants brought their own prepared meals from home.
‘First dates’, a leading name in TV dating
Since its debut in 2016, First Dates has established itself as a leading name for dating shows on television. The programme closed 2025 with a 7% audience share and 876,000 viewers in its Monday-to-Thursday slot on Cuatro, outperforming its main competitor by one point. In its new phase in Telecinco’s access primetime since 26 January, the show has increased its average compared to 2025, reaching an 8.6% share and 1,112,000 viewers.