Blind date: ‘Would we meet again? Stay tuned, divas’

Colman, 31, a lawyer, meets Ben, 28, an assistant stage manager

Colman on Ben

What were you hoping for?
Brown eyes, decent chat, and if all else failed, a good story.

First impressions?
Punctual – we both arrived early and in surprisingly similar outfits.

What did you talk about?
The best and worst shows we’ve seen. The Australian outback. The seven oak trees of Sevenoaks. Blarney Castle. Standup comedy. Coming out. Celebrities we’ve come across.

Most awkward moment?
None at all – easy from the start.

Good table manners?
Exceptional. He kept on topping up my glass and was lovely to the nice dog that wandered over to our table.

Blind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.

What questions will I be asked?
We ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions cover everything you would like to know, tell us what’s on your mind.

Can I choose who I match with?
No, it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests, preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely to be.

Can I pick the photograph?
No, but don't worry: we'll choose the nicest ones.

What personal details will appear?
Your first name, job and age.

How should I answer?
Honestly but respectfully. Be mindful of how it will read to your date, and that Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online.

Will I see the other person’s answers?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details.

Will you find me The One?
We’ll try! Marriage! Babies!

Can I do it in my home town?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere.

How to apply
Email blind.date@theguardian.com

Best thing about Ben?
He was warm, chatty and genuinely interested in what I had to say.

Would you introduce Ben to your friends?
I may have to if he ends up coming to my gay run club. We were intrigued to discover that we didn’t have any mutual followers on Instagram.

Describe Ben in three words
Easy-going, engaging, mischievous.

What do you think Ben made of you?
Open, affable, inquisitive – he said I was quick-witted, which I was happy to hear.

Did you go on somewhere?
We stayed for coffee, followed by tea, and ended up lingering. Ben had to go to work, so I travelled with him, which felt like a nice way to round things off.

And … did you kiss?
We hugged goodbye on the train as he dashed off to work.

If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
That Ben didn’t have to go to work – we’d have happily gone for a drink.

Marks out of 10?
9.

Would you meet again?
Yes – he suggested we meet up again when I’m back from holidays.

Ben on Colman

What were you hoping for?
A decent story for the “waiting for the kettle to boil” chat in the office.

First impressions?
Eyelash envy.

What did you talk about?
Barry’s Tea. Joanne McNally. How we’d fare during a zombie apocalypse.

Most awkward moment?
The intermittently disturbed conversation every time the train we went on afterwards started screaming.

Good table manners?
Insert chef’s kiss emoji.

Best thing about Colman?
His joie de vivre and that he sees the funny side of everything life throws at all of us.

Would you introduce Colman to your friends?
As Olivia Dean once said, he’d “slot right in”.

Describe Colman in three words
Vibes all the way (that’s technically four).

What do you think Colman made of you?
Probably that I’m pretty convivial and had a sweaty forehead for the first half‑hour.

Did you go on somewhere?
Sadly I had to go to work, so no.

And … did you kiss?
My mother could be reading this … (we didn’t).

If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
The fact that the old ball and chain (my work) was beckoning.

Marks out of 10?
A solid 9.

Would you meet again?
We plan on it – stay tuned, divas.

Colman and Ben ate at the Bull and Last, London NW5. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com