Single in Sydney: Sarah finally has dinner on First Dates but TV show dishes up a cold serve of reality

THERE’S only one thing worse than being on a reality TV show. Going on one ... and ending up on the cutting room floor.

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JOURNALIST Sarah Swain has been single (but dating) for longer than she cares to remember.

That’s because it’s tough out there, as any single will tell you, so to bring hope to others across the city, she’s sharing her no-holds-barred adventures on the Sydney single scene every Friday.

FIRST DATES FAIL

What’s worse than being on a reality TV show?

Not being on one.

Well, actually, the worst thing is going on one, then not appearing, after TELLING EVERYBODY YOU WERE ON IT.

You see, you may remember last week I told you about how I’d turned up to film an appearance on Channel 7 show First Dates.

But then, my date didn’t turn up.

I felt like I’d been kicked in the stomach.

But after revealing that, the Big Important TV Boss had an idea.

She had, like some kind of TV Fairy Godmother, found me a date of sorts.

He was, she said, a ‘background dater” — somebody eating in the restaurant who wasn’t actually going to be featured in the show.

Did I want to go on a date with him? she asked.

Well I’d already waited for about eight and a half hours (almost), so yes, yes I did.

And I was finally led across Martin Place to the restaurant, Verandah.

I was given some instructions: I could call my pals in the bathroom on speaker phone, I shouldn’t worry about where the cameras were and, when I arrived, I had to say to the maitre d’: “I’m Sarah, and I’m here for dinner.”

He wasn’t tall dark and handsome. In fact he didn’t have any hair at all. Picture: Supplied/ Channel 7.

And after being miked-up by a nice man in the disabled toilet, a headphone-clad runner did a Big Brother-style countdown for me to enter the restaurant.

My hands were sweating, my mouth was dry, and I can’t even remember what I said to the maitre d’.

But I must have said something, because he told me to go and sit and the bar and wait for my date.

“So … who would you like to walk through that door?” asked that hunky barman, gesturing with his head as he polished the bar with a cloth.

So Nad, come here often? Picture: Supplied/ Channel 7.

“Um …. talk, dark and handsome?” I replied nervously, running my fingers around the rim of my wine glass.

And as my date walked in, my heart sank. Just a little.

He wasn’t tall, dark and handsome. In fact he didn’t have any hair at all.

“Hi, I’m Nad,” he said.

After ordering himself a drink, we were led to a table by a waiter.

Well, I’m glad this bit didn’t make it on to TV. Picture: Supplied/ Channel 7.

He hailed from Egypt, and did something dull like IT, but was also studying.

And he also had a child, which isn’t a deal breaker.

But then he annoyed me by declaring he said he was ‘anti-news”, whatever that means.

Not the best thing to say to a journalist.

Anyway, it was all nice enough.

We even went through all the postdate interviews.

He was keen for a second date, and I said maybe. I didn’t fancy him though. but I was too nice to say so on camera.

I had fun. But from a TV point of view it was about as exciting as re-runs of the Antiques Roadshow.

A second date Nad? You’re joking right? Picture: Supplied/ Channel 7

Afterwards, I was told by Channel 7 that I wasn’t a main character, but I did appear in the show. Hooray!

They even sent me these lovely stills from the date, so I thought, you know, they’d use something.

So, after work last week, I sat down at an office computer, with my workmates, to watch a preview of the show, which was on this week.

The editor even bought bubbly for the occasion.

And I did appear.

BUT I SAID THREE WORDS.

Bra strap alert. Still, at least I didn’t have them spilling out, ey? Picture: Supplied/Channel 7

Even those red towels in the toilet got more airtime than me.

They tweeted me a GIF — you know, one of those repeating internet clips and it showed the whole of my appearance.

I was so annoyed — and blamed my idiot date for not showing.

Still, after watching all the other women — most of whom seemed to think having their boobs wobbling over their dresses like blancmanges was a good look for the telly, the editor told me he reckoned it was probably for the best.

I think he’s right.

First Dates is on Wednesday at 9pm on Channel 7.