TV Romance Endures: Pioneering Blind Date Couple Celebrates 34 Years of Marriage

In a testament to enduring love, Sue and Alex Tatham, the first couple to marry after meeting on the iconic television dating show “Blind Date,” are celebrating 34 years of marriage. Their journey from a televised first encounter to a lasting partnership captured the nation’s heart.

Their “Blind Date Wedding of the Year” was broadcast to an astounding 17 million viewers, marking a significant moment in the history of reality television. Both Sue and Alex initially embarked on the show not seeking romance but instead found a profound connection that led to matrimony. Millenium TV has learned that Sue’s friends secretly submitted her application, while Alex found himself filling out forms with colleagues during work hours.

The “Blind Date” phenomenon, which premiered 40 years ago, was a groundbreaking program hosted by Cilla Black, inspired by the American concept “The Dating Game.” Sue recalled the show’s early days as the “birth of reality TV,” driven by excitement to experience something new, rather than actively searching for a boyfriend. Alex likened the show’s popularity at the time to contemporary hit dating series.

Behind the scenes, the production team meticulously ensured the element of surprise. Sue recounted spending the day with the other two women Alex would choose from, and how staff went to great lengths to prevent accidental encounters, including her having to hide in a cupboard. Auditions involved unusual questions, such as “If you were a fruit, what would you be?” and “What sort of animal would you be?”

Alex humorously described his selection process as “eanie meeny miny moe,” admitting he had no specific reason for picking Sue, who was identified as “number two from the West Midlands.” Their randomly chosen first date was a medieval banquet in Ireland, with the couple noting that production kept them in separate hotels five miles apart. Sue playfully remarked to the show’s host after their date, “If in 10 years’ time I found myself married to Alex, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”

When the couple decided to marry, the television production team initially reacted calmly, planning a simple video of them leaving the church. However, as their wedding day approached, it transformed into a major media event, drawing numerous television crews, police presence, and thousands of well-wishers outside the church. Alex described the immense pressure of delivering a groom’s speech to millions, an experience that allowed them to invite “just about everyone we’ve ever met.”

Years later, Sue and Alex returned to the show, proudly introducing their first baby. Reflecting on their enduring bond, Alex emphasized the importance of growing together and sharing common values, stating, “Once you have someone with a similar set of values, boyfriend or girlfriend, no matter how you meet, that’s a really good basis for any relationship.” Sue added that “open honesty is the best thing… And be kind.”

Alex attributes their lasting happiness to their shared love of family, mutual care, life ambitions, and the joy of good times. He affectionately described Sue as “sensitive and kind, a wonderful mother and still extremely beautiful… I am just lucky to have picked her,” affirming their continued declarations of love for one another.