HOW THE CCC FILMED THE

UK'S FAVOURITE DATING SHOW

 

THE BRIEF

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First Dates has become a household name over the last decade, racking up more than 20 series,

a variety of specials including Valentine’s, Pride and Christmas, and a huge following of committed viewers.

For Series 24, The Complete Camera Company had the privilege of joining Twenty Twenty Television to film it. There were a lot of new challenges, because joining a successful, long-running show (for which a blueprint already exists), is an exciting but demanding process. It was important to The Complete Camera Company that they met the demands of a very successful formula, and maximised on crew communication during filming, whilst making the shoot run as smoothly as possible.

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THE CHALLENGES

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In the early stages the focus was to see what improvements, if any, could be made.

Following numerous recces with the production team, we began designing and building the technical infrastructure to match the previous series.

This series of the show was set in at The Botanist in Bath, a beautiful restaurant in the centre of the city.

The location was rigged with 53 Panasonic PTZ cameras, focusing on areas around the whole restaurant, meaning that four different dates could be covered at once.

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The production gallery was situated in the bar vaults below the restaurant - low ceilings, limited space, and existing furniture that had to be worked around. Our team built a temporary gallery within the confines and utilised fibre-optic technology to ensure the cameras (two floors away) could

communicate with the gallery team.

One of the difficulties, however, was the age of the building. It offered a stunning setting visually, but it meant that cable routes were tricky, and the crew had to adapt by using windows for exit and entry,

ensuring no damage was done to the interior. The art department collaborated brilliantly with the technical crew to mask areas temporarily so that camera shots weren’t disadvantaged.

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We employed our largest technical crew to date to reduce the amount of time the restaurant

had to be closed for rigging; and hiding cables, cameras and microphones effectively

and safely was a challenge we enjoyed overcoming.

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It was vital that everything matched the previous series visually, so that the final episodes delivered the formula the viewers knew and loved. The CCC utilised a range of radio and atmos mics to complement the visual coverage, and one of the biggest challenges was ensuring that the comms panels provided the required level of communication between crew and production.

We ensured that the crew in the gallery could talk to each other and listen to the dates at the same time.

Floor crew also used the fabulous Bolero wireless digital comms units, using multichannel technology, communicating with up to 8 producers at a time rather than on a single channel.

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THE RESULTS

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Thanks to the hard work and commitment of the crew, the series showcased the seamless integration of a new broadcast facilities company into a well-established show. Audiences loved the diversity and vulnerability of the contributors and felt engaged with the staff interactions as well.

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The series remains highly regarded for delicately navigating grief and loneliness, exploring complex relationship histories, and nurturing genuine connections. It was a joy to see the success of the show, increasing viewing figures on its previous year and welcoming new viewers into the fold.

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Facts & Figures
Filmed: March/April 2025
Aired: July/August 2025
Channel: Channel 4
Location: Bath, England
Viewers: 750,000
Cameras: 53

 

Critical Acclaim

“Some of the series’ most touching moments ever broadcast.”

Nation Cymru

“Incorrigible romantic Fred shows his First Date couples how to do it.”

Daily Mail

“The nation’s most romantic restaurant reopens its doors –

and there’s love in the air from the top.” 

TV Zone

“Fresh from getting married himself, TV’s most romantic man Fred Sirieix resumes playing Cupid

as he once more opens the doors to the First Dates restaurant.” 

The Guardian