Dating evening standard

Event Timings

I now find myself constantly fascinated by the etiquette of modern dating. Gifts on first dates, for example. The Drinks App guy arrived with a just-bought novella about an unsuccessful affair and a bottled Martini. The third — a pea farmer really — had brought two pheasants hanging on a string and plucked them for my dinner. Feeld also appeared to be the only app where dick pics were immediately acceptable. Drinks App had included a Lucozade bottle in his for scale helpful. But there have been inevitable downsides to life outside the nunnery. A euphemism?

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A funny thing has happened, since launching my new dating podcast, London Love Stories , five weeks ago. The weekly series tells real-life love stories from across our capital city, from Sliding Doors moments on the Tube to fateful calls. My main fear going into the recordings was that it would all be too fairytale, too sickly, too perfect, for wearied Londoners slogging home in the rain wondering why they've been ghosted for the 18th time in as many months. Will only smug, married-up couples want to listen to these rom-com-worthy meet-cutes set among the streets and spires of the world's greatest city? The reality, to my delight, has been quite the opposite. In the week since we launched our first episode about a couple who had their own Sliding Doors moment on the District Line, it's been single listeners — many of whom say had given up on having their own love story — who I've received the highest number of messages from. It turns out we are a city of old romantics, really, when it comes down to it.

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What is ghosting? Billie Eilish reveals 'insane' betrayal from man. Love Island bombshell Joey Essex to steal female islander from her couple.

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Polyamory: could it cure my loneliness this Valentine's Day?

What I've learnt as the host of London's hit new dating podcast. Meet Florence Given: the influencer telling women to 'dump him'. Dating Butt plugs, jealousy and falling in love: the truth about polyamory. Dating Women teamed up to rate men online.

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