Every week, FEMAIL asks two singletons to report back from their blind date. Today, Alison, 31, and Rob, 35, recount their lunch - complete with some rather controversial talking points...

ALISON, 31 

A perennial single girl.

Dating past?

I’m quite choosy. My longest relationship lasted six months and that finished in 2022. I moved to the UK from America 18 months ago, so I’m still figuring out British men, to be honest.

Alison is looking for a kind, clever renaissance man who is also a feminist

Pre-date nerves?

None. I’ve been on so many first dates, I’m tired of them!

First impressions?

I was doing the crossword with a bellini when Rob arrived. As an American I hug everyone, so I hugged Rob – he took it like a champ. I didn’t get an immediate compliment about how I looked.

Easy to talk to?

I love travelling but Rob was more interested in discussing plane crashes – he kept mentioning them. He did ask if I wanted kids, and he got my opinion on prenups, too. Hardly first-date questions.

Rob kept making jokes about me being American, asking: ‘Where is your gun?’ I tried to make jokes, too, but our senses of humour didn’t gel.

Embarrassing moments?

Because of Rob’s obsession with plane crashes, he asked me about 9/11. I had friends whose parents died in the Twin Towers, so for us it’s serious.

Did sparks fly?

No. While Rob did tell me I looked lovely, it became obvious we are complete opposites. By the end of the main course, our lunch had reached its expiration date.

Alison got up and said goodbye while Rob was still eating his waffles

See him again?

No, we are too different. Rob said he was surprised I hadn’t had any long-term relationships, but when I replied that I’m picky, he said I was ‘fussy’. I got a bit prickly with him after that.

What do you think he thought of you?

It’s hard to know a guy’s mind. Rob was surprised that I got up and said goodbye while he was still eating his waffles. But I’ve become good at leaving a date when I know someone isn’t for me.

Would your family like him?

No – you have to hold forth on what you think in my family. Rob is a bit too timid for them.

ROB, 35

Single for five years, no children.

Dating past?

My longest relationship lasted two years. Most of my friends are married with kids, but I’ve got an identical twin brother who is also single and we live together. There is a bit of pressure from our parents to settle, but there’s not much we can do about it!

Rob's celebrity crush is Carey Mulligan, and he's looking for a woman who likes exercising

Pre-date nerves?

I didn’t get much sleep the night before. I spent most of it lying awake worrying about getting up on time.

First impressions?

I was quite late as I mistakenly went to the restaurant next door. Alison must have been bored waiting for me, which I apologised for. She is a pretty girl (although I didn’t tell her that until later on).

Easy to talk to?

Yes, Alison is an American and living in London temporarily with her sisters. We discussed whether we’d have children – I am guilty of raising that question, although she did say she’d asked it on a second date before.

I got the impression she wasn’t interested in me romantically. When I realised this, I did ask some deliberately provocative questions. From my perspective, the standard questions for Americans are about religion, circumcision, politics, prenups, guns and 9/11. To my surprise, we agreed on many of these topics.

Embarrassing moments?

I sensed the 9/11 question may have been the final straw in my line of controversial questioning.

Did sparks fly?

No. At first, I did think Alison was good-looking and that there was a bit of an attraction between us. But after chatting to her, I quickly realised she wasn’t interested in me.

Rob said it was the first time he's had a date walk out on him

See her again?

I don’t think so. Alison had two bites of her dessert and then said, ‘I’ve got to go’. It was the first time I’ve had a date walk out on me like that.

What do you think she thought of you?

Alison was very polite but I got the impression I wasn’t for her. I caught her looking at her watch on a couple of occasions.

Would your family like her?

I don’t want to be mean, but they’d know she isn’t right for me.

Alison’s verdict: 4/10 

Liked? Rob’s compliment.

Regrets? The date was 30 minutes too long.

Coffee or cab? Cab.

Rob’s verdict: 5/10

Liked? The food.

Regrets? Too many coffees beforehand.

Coffee or cab? Cab.

Would you like us to find you a date? Are you a singleton, or is there someone you'd like to send on a blind date? Email: blinddate@dailymail.co.uk