Last week's date

Last week, Neal, 44, a news production editor from Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, chose Cheryl, 52, a market research manager from Croxley Green, Herts

Why? I was sure we'd have tonnes in common.

Neal says: Cheryl was such an easy person to talk to. She was very together and looked great. She was confident, wise, honest, attractive and we had so much in common we didn't stop yapping all night. We both grew up in Durban [South Africa] during apartheid and were both very much against it. It's great to meet a like-minded South African.

As an evening out it was as good as it gets. It was a great evening - I'd recommend it. I'd like to keep in touch with Cheryl - she's restored my faith in people.

Cheryl says: Neal is absolutely charming. It had felt like I'd known him for years. We'd both been apprehensive about the date but we had a great night. There's an eight-year age difference between us but it didn't occur to me that we weren't the same age. We had so much to talk about regarding the past that we didn't actually discover what we were interested in now!

The meal was lovely and Neal ordered some champagne to round off the night. We were a bit tipsy and it seemed quite romantic as we shared the cab back to Baker Street. I'd like to see Neal again. He'd be a great friend.