Follow-upsImpeccable Table Manners

Update: Josh talks back

 

Eagle-eyed viewers may remember all the way back to yesterday’s Guardian Blind Date when Rob and Josh went to what sounds like a very dreadful cocktail bar and had an even more dreadful time.

Following my review of the date – which if I’m honest didn’t look too favourably on either of them, but such is the nature of putting yourself out there – Josh (right) got in touch to say his actual answers were edited and made him sound a lot harsher than he actually was. Interesting.

There was a particularly zinging answer to the “awkward moments” question which I couldn’t wait to hear the real story behind:

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You’d be forgiven for thinking that the date was an acidic hotbed of vitriol, with endless eye-rolling and a bitchy putdown served with every margarita. But what Josh actually said was:

Were there any awkward moments?
When he said ‘This article better be published after all I’ve been through’. Didn’t really make me feel top of the world.

You can see the original, published answers in this recap of the date on the Guardian website. In the interests of balance,  here are Josh’s full responses to the questions he was asked. Warning: if you enjoyed Josh being a wonderfully unsympathetic bitch in the original article, it’s not your day – he seems OK.

Before the date, what were you hoping for?
Someone to have a laugh with, have some drinks, enjoy the company of a total stranger in a cool bar.

What were your first impressions?
Not my type at all, but that could be a good thing! Blind dates should be a nice way to get out of your comfort zone.

Blind date: Josh and Rob

What did you talk about?
His job, the pop up restaurant and how we weren’t allowed to call the cocktails cocktails. They are ‘infusions’ apparently.

Were there any awkward moments?
When he said ‘This article better be published after all I’ve been through’. Didn’t really make me feel top of the world.

Good table manners?
Perfectly acceptable it was rather dark though!

Best thing about Rob?
Knows what he wants out of life.

Would you feel happy introducing him to your friends?
Honestly, not really. I think we move in different crowds.

How would you describe Rob in three words?
Northern, driven, carnivore.

What do you think he made of you?
I was probably a little annoying with my nervous joking. And I gossiped with the bar staff about the venue at the start so he might have felt I was ignoring him. Sorry about that.

Did you go on somewhere?
Nope.

And… did you kiss?
No we didn’t.

If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
That the restaurant served wine. I needed a non infused drink.

Marks out of 10?
5

Would you meet again?
I’m afraid not, I don’t think we were looking for the same things

In fairness to the journalist compiling answers, the column seems to have a very strict, low word count – but Josh’s unedited answers put a new spin on things, don’t they?  Worth remembering if you’re planning on some Guardian Blind Date stardom yourself…

If you have been on a Guardian Blind Date and would like to tell me how it really went, do get in touch.

Photograph: James Drew Turner for the Guardian

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  1. My world is in chaos now! Does this mean all the blind date columns obscure the truth with their Guardian-imposed laconic style? If only all the participants got in touch to dish the real dirt.

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