Although episode five of First Dates was supposed to provide a kick of entertaining nostalgia, there was an element of sadness to the show.
Former 1980’s pop-star and Curiosity Killed The Cat band member Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot cut an unrecognisable figure, admitting to a long battle with drink and drugs.
Branded ‘out of touch’ and ‘offensive’ for his end-of-date joke, fans have taken to Twitter to sympathise with the former superstar.
A Troubled Past
Ben admitted that he had been desperately trying to move on with his life since his 1980’s stardom.
He had a difficult time stepping out of the A-list loop of drug and alcohol dependency, however, spending three months in rehab.
The 52-year-old told barman Merlin that he “never liked the spotlight” and was enjoying life as more of an anonymous figure – you won’t find him on Twitter or Instagram.
His date, 43-year-old music manager Sarah, however, was about to fire Ben straight back to the past.
Curiosity Almost Killed The Cat
Ben tried to swerve the inevitable music chat the best he could, mentioning that he was more involved in the business back in the 80s.
Sarah probed, however.
You have to admit, that hat was definitely hiding a story or two…
Sarah was shocked and amazed at the news, oozing excitement from the off.
She even called her mum to say that she was sat having dinner with her idol – a man she once had posters of on her wall.
Outdated & Out of Touch
Despite Ben coming across as polite and attentive, there was an element of outdatedness to his approach
First, there were his flashing shoes.
Sarah (and everyone else on the internet) found these bad-boys absolutely repulsive…
With the date coming to a close, Ben had hit the old-age dilemma of the bill.
However, lacking any grace or charm, the empty bottle of champagne seemed to have got the better of him.
Spouting an unusual and off-putting story about a friend, the chat completely put Sarah off.
Sarah said: It wasn’t funnny.”
WATCH First Dates every Wednesday night, on E4, at 10 pm.