Is love in the air for Louie? (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Is love in the air for Louie?

11:08am Tuesday 21st August 2012 in South Essex

LOVE could be in the air for a man from Grays who appeared on a dating show.

Louie O’Brien from Chadwell Road, Grays sat beside some of the country’s most famous TV personalities as he featured on a dating feature of This Morning two weeks ago.

Brian Dowling, the feature’s host and former Big Brother winner, introduced the Thurrock man as “Louie The Lip” before he played the dating game, as presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford watched on.
 

Louie was the “picker” in the game that bears a close resemblance to Cilla Black’s “Blind Date” of the 90s.

Sat behind a screen, Louie had to crack a joke and sing a song, as three ladies on the otherside of the screen did likewise. The show’s crowning moment was when Louie danced blindfolded with each of the ladies before choosing one for an afternoon of dating around London.

He chose Linette, from Colchester, for the four dates.

Followed by a camera crew, first they strolled along the Thames, then had a dance lesson at the Pineapple Dance Studios and visited a chocolate factory. The day was capped off with tea and biscuits atop the Secret Tea Rooms in Covent Garden.

Last Thursday, an update was screened, where Linette and Louie gave their views on the day and each other, plus on the chances of a romance blossoming. Louie said: “We definitely got on well and it could happen.”

Louie, who lived in Majorca for 25 years and has written a book on his experience called Hasta La Flip-Flops, got on the show after having lunch with someone in Majorca who had contacts on the show.

He said: “It was good. They really looked after us.

“It was a great break a great break for me and the book, too.

"Brian introduced me and mentioned the book which was great.”

He added that viewers would have to “watch this space” to see whether anything comes of his meeting with Linette.