The host of the new Blind Date series has just been announced

And now we really can't wait

Words by Jadie Troy-Pryde

Ah, the nineties! A time when we didn’t have to take photos of our dinner to appease our Instagram followers, and (sadly) HD Brows weren’t yet a thing. But what we lacked in Paddy McGuinness and his plethora of glammed-up ladies looking for love on a Saturday night, we more than made up for with the late Cilla Black on Blind Date. It was stuff that dreams were made of. Singletons looking for love, hoping that their soulmate was on the other side of the wall – so simple, and so great.

And thankfully our nostalgic pangs look set to be satisfied as the show makes a huge comeback this year. It last aired in 2003 and was hosted by Cilla during its 18-year run on ITV.

According to reports, the brand new Blind Date will move over to Channel 5 and hopes to freshen up the dating show. A source told The Sun: ‘Blind Date is the original dating show and it’s huge news to bring it back.

‘It’s a classic format that will be rebooted to make it young, sexy and modern – expect sparks to fly.’

We certainly do.

A few potential hosts were thrown into the mix, with Graham Norton, Vicki Pattison and Olly Murs tipped to take on the iconic job - but it's just been announced that Paul O'Grady will be taking the limelight.

'I am honoured to present the brand new series and, after speaking to Channel 5, I know the series is in safe hands. I can't wait to see if we can find love,' the presenter has said about his new gig. 'Blind Date is an incredibly special family show which brought laughter, tears and joy to TV viewers throughout the land.'

Over the last few years, dating shows have taken on some extreme tactics to make true love happen. From Date My Mum, to Dating In The Dark, to – lest we forget – Naked Attraction, it’s all gone a bit weird.

So in an age where swiping right on Tinder is doing nothing for our love lives and everything for arthritis of the thumb, the simple and stripped back Blind Date is very welcome. Plus, the show will include LGBT contestants for the first time ever.