First Dates' Fred Sirieix forced to intervene in disastrous date on new BBC show

CBBC is about to shake things up with a hilarious twist on Channel 4's popular series First Dates, and viewers are in for quite the treat.

Fred Sirieix, the charismatic maître d' of the much-loved original dating program, is set to make a special appearance in BBC's latest children’s comedy delight, Horrible Science.

Boasting fifteen laughter-packed episodes, the new series comes from the award-winning minds responsible for fan-favourite Horrible Histories, renowned for its comical reenactments of real historical events.

This fresh spin-off promises hilarious sketches with a scientific twist. In one notable episode, the eighth of the series, Fred steps into his element to present 'Scientific First Dates'

He sets the perfect tone by noting: "The world may often seem cold and hard, but there is beauty and romance to be found."

Staying true to the running theme of the show, the segment delves into the quirky courtship habits of animals, which one hopeful dater, Liam, thinks might aid him in locating his soulmate, reports the Mirror.

Liam makes his appearance as a devoted nature buff, having meticulously researched the wild world of animal dating strategies before his romantic encounter. Upon meeting Kayleigh, he wastes no time deploying his first unconventional tactic.

He places pebbles on her dinner plate, inviting her to pick her favourite stone. To many, the gesture might seem odd; however, it mirrors an endearing mating ritual practiced by Adélie penguins.

Even so, Kayleigh remains unimpressed, quickly retorting with a pointed quip: "I don't suppose you know any penguins that present their partners with chocolates?"

Liam, undeterred by his date's bemused expression, launches into an bird-like dance. He describes the ritual as he performs, stating:"Well, the blue-capped cordon-bleu bird impresses its date by bobbing, singing and tapping its feet so fast, you can't see the move."

But before Kayleigh can react, Fred swoops in with a distraction from an unforeseen issue.

"Sorry to interrupt but we've had a complaint about the smell," interjects the maître d, leading Liam to confess: "That's me, I weed on my head, like a billy goat trying to impress a nanny goat."

As the dinner descends into even more chaos, Liam also owns up to defecating in the restaurant, citing male hippopotamus’ mating displays. Yet, against the odds, Kayleigh finds herself won over by the quirky nature of her suitor and agrees to a second date.

Fans of Fred's hosting hijinks on First Dates will be thrilled with the new BBC offering set to debut tonight on CBBC. Featuring three special appearances by Fred in episodes three, eight, and eleven, the show presents a variety of comedic dating calamities for audiences to enjoy.

Horrible Science premieres tonight at 5pm on CBBC. The entire series is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.