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Blind Date's first married couple marks 34 years as show returns
Sue and Alex Tatham, the first couple to marry after meeting on the iconic British dating show Blind Date, have celebrated 34 years together as Disney+ prepares to relaunch the series for a modern audience. Their 1987 wedding, broadcast to 17 million viewers, became a cultural moment-yet neither initially sought love on the program.
The accidental audition
Sue's journey to the show began without her knowledge when friends submitted an application on her behalf. Alex, meanwhile, was recruited at work after a colleague interrupted payroll audits with forms in hand. Both were drawn not by romantic aspirations but by the novelty of early reality television.
"It was the birth of reality TV-exciting, glamorous-seeming," Sue recalled. "We wanted to see how it worked." Alex compared it to today's Love Island hype: "A very hot show at the time." Auditions followed months later, featuring quirky questions like "If you were a fruit, what would you be?" and logistical hurdles-including Sue hiding in a cupboard to avoid pre-filming encounters with Alex.
Behind the sliding door
The show's illusion of sophistication quickly faded for Alex upon seeing the set's sliding door-a "bloke pulling cardboard," he laughed. Sue and the other contestants received Alex's questions in advance, with answers vetted for content. One risqué response about suntan lotion was rejected, highlighting shifting social norms since the 1980s.
Regulators initially questioned the show's sexual undertones, but host Cilla Black's involvement eased concerns. Alex's choice of Sue-"number two from the West Midlands"-was impulsive: "Eenie meeny miny moe."
"When I picked Sue, I had absolutely no idea why I'd done that. It was just a gut feeling."
Alex Tatham
A medieval banquet and separate hotels
The couple's first date-a medieval banquet in Ireland-was chosen at random. Production rules kept them in hotels five miles apart, even after they bonded. "We wanted to go to a nightclub," Sue said, "but they said no-the date was over." Alex noted today's reality TV would likely film such moments, reflecting the genre's evolution.
'Do I need to buy a new hat?'
Cilla Black's signature question-hinting at marriage-proved prophetic. When Sue and Alex announced their engagement, producers casually requested footage of their church exit. The result: a spectacle with TV crews, police, and thousands of onlookers. Their 1987 wedding, Blind Date Wedding of the Year, aired on London Weekend Television.
"Imagine giving a groom's speech to 300 friends-now imagine millions watching."
Alex Tatham
Guests donned bright colors to stand out on camera, creating what Alex joked was "a really good edition of Songs of Praise."
'Open honesty is the best thing'
Decades later, the Tathams credit shared values and kindness for their enduring bond. "You grow together," Alex said. "Once you find someone with similar values, that's a solid foundation-no matter how you meet."
Sue emphasized honesty: "Be kind." Alex added: "She's sensitive, kind, a wonderful mother-still extremely beautiful. Most people fall in love with her, so I was just lucky to pick her."
"To this day, we say 'I love you' a lot-and still do."
Alex Tatham
The legacy of a TV phenomenon
Blind Date's 1985 pilot, inspired by America's The Dating Game, became a Saturday-night staple, spawning successors like Love is Blind and Love Island. Disney+'s upcoming "reimagined" version reflects the format's enduring appeal-proving that even blind dates, under the right circumstances, can last a lifetime.
