Is First Dates on TV tonight? Channel 4 removes season 21 from TV and online streaming in schedule shake-up

Channel 4 left viewers confused with a last-minute schedule shakeup last week - on Tuesday evening, in the 9pm slot where the second episode of First Dates season 21 was set to premiere, Channel 4 aired a repeat from season nine instead.

The latest season of the show premiered on Channel 4 on Tuesday January 2, and was set to air weekly on TV and be released as a box set on Channel 4 online.

Channel 4 had switched up its schedule, with a new reality show airing in the regular First Dates slot going forward, and the new series of the dating series delayed, leaving the cast of the show in the dark amid the sudden schedule change.

Why wasn't First Dates on TV last week?

Channel 4 offered the decidedly vague explanation: “Episodes were removed for editorial reasons and the new series will resume next Tuesday at 10pm.”

This doesn’t explain why the first episode of the series, which has already aired, is unavailable to watch on catch-up on Channel 4 online.

Even the show’s cast were left in the dark about the schedule change, as restaurant maître d' and recent I’m a Celeb star Fred Sirieix shared on X: “No idea what happened tonight with #FirstDates episode and when it will be aired. Clearly a glitch somewhere. Sorry. As soon as I hear I will let you know.”

When will First Dates return to Channel 4?

There’s some good news for fans of the reality series, as Channel 4 has confirmed that First Dates will resume soon, with the second episode of the new season airing on the channel on Tuesday January 16 at 10pm. Fred confirmed on X that new episodes will air weekly up to Valentine’s Day.

New documentary series Around the World in 80 Weighs, about six Brits living with obesity, will air in the 9pm slot.

It has not yet been confirmed when season 21 of the hit show will become available to watch again on Channel 4 online. All of series 1-20 of the main show are still available to watch on the Channel 4 streamer, as are the complete series of First Dates Hotel, Teen First Dates, and First Dates Ireland.