EARLIER TODAY, RTÉ 2 announced its autumn/winter schedule.

Among the highlights?

An Irish version of the beloved Channel 4 reality show First Dates.

The concept of First Dates is simple: single people are invited to a “restaurant” to go on a date with a total stranger and the whole thing is filmed.

As you can imagine, it results in some deliciously awkward TV. (Who can forget this Cork woman shutting down her nightmare date earlier this year?)

But what will the Irish version look like?

People are BOUND to end up on dates with people they know

The UK version of First Dates is filmed in London — a city of, oh, 8.6 million.

Meaning that the odds of going on a date with someone you know is slim.

Here in Ireland, however, everyone has at least 17 mutual Facebook friends with any other Irish person, so dates like this are inevitable.

“Hi I’m Ailbhe. I’m from Galway!”

“Galway? Would you know a lad named Cathal?”

“Yeah, he’s my cousin!”

“Go away outta that — he’s my best friend!”

There’ll be the dreaded, “I think you might have shifted my friend?” realisation

Jenny definitely shifted him in Whelan's. Channel 4 / YouTube Channel 4 / YouTube / YouTube

*makes excuses to go to the bathroom so you can message your Whatsapp group*

I’M ON A DATE WITH JENNY’S SHIFT.

They’ll be a lot messier…

Give Irish people complimentary drinks and there’s bound to be a lot of shite talk.

The Maitre d’ won’t be as suave/handsome/charming/French

Memo to RTÉ Two: please just bring over the Maitre d’ from the Channel 4 version.

Please.

Intercounty rivalries will boil to the surface

YouTube YouTube

“Oh, you’re from Monaghan? As a Cavan man, I simply cannot continue on this date. Sorry.”

And if a date is going well, they’ll share a taxi to Coppers afterwards

YouTube YouTube

Quite frankly, we can’t wait.

Bring it on.

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