Mash Blind Date: 'If she finds out I'm a single father of five this date is f**ked'

JULIAN Cook, aged 46, is a knackered dad of five children. 38-year-old Lauren Hewitt lives alone in a flat with a washing machine not permanently full of PE kit. Can it work?

Lauren on Julian

First impression?

Sort of frantic, like he’d just escaped from an emergency. Shirt unironed. Had a catapult he’d apparently ‘forgotten’ in his jacket pocket. Said he’d been up all night but brushed off questions as to why, I assume partying by the exhaustion on his face.

How was conversation?

I made standard ‘what are you streaming?’ chat and he said he’s really into Bluey at the moment. I don’t know it. He said it’s televisual art and an episode called Sleepytime, featuring an extended dream sequence, brought him to tears. Arthouse cinema and in touch with his emotions. Hot.

Favourite thing