Blind date: The waiters wanted an on-the-spot review of what we thought of each other'

"Q&AShow Blind date is Saturday's dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It's been running since 2009 you can read all about how we put it together here."

"What questions will I be asked? We ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions cover everything you would like to know, tell us what's on your mind. Can I choose who I match with? No, it's a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests, preferences, etc the more you tell us, the better the match is likely to be."

Every week two strangers are paired for dinner and drinks and then answer a standard set of questions about the date. A photograph of each dater is taken beforehand and published alongside first name, job and age. Questions cover age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of person sought. Participants cannot choose their match or their photograph. Answers may be edited for length or clarity, and participants are asked to be honest and respectful while considering how answers will read to a large audience. The initiative has been running since 2009 to facilitate matches.

Read at www.theguardian.com