Thrilled First Dater tells producers: "You found me that unicorn"

Self-described as an "absolute divil" for a biscuit, Derek says his ideal woman is similar to a Milkado: pink, fluffy, and really tasty.

"I was about to say 'really nice to eat' but that's probably a bit too rude," the Cavan man laughs, chatting with producers.

The 46-year-old broadband engineer was bouncing with energy before the date and told matchmakers he was ready to meet someone special. Thankfully, it seems that they chose well in Karen.

"Wow" was the first word out of Derek's mouth on seeing Karen walk through the First Dates door. Quickly followed by "How are you fixed?" - a sure sign that he was interested in the student nurse as he told producers that it was his go-to chat up line.

Hailing from Kildare, 40-year-old Karen is looking for someone to settle down and have kids with, but has a "special ability" for picking men that don't want the same. In the past, she says these relationships would be a blow to her self-esteem, and she soon fell into a depression*.

"It was a horrible spiral downward time," she says. "I did some things I'm not proud of and, you know, I went through a really bad depression. I didn't want to be here anymore. I had to find my self-worth."

Focusing on her own passions, she returned to school to pursue a career in nursing: "Going back to school at this age is really hard but I love it, I've always wanted to be a nurse. I'm the best version of myself when I'm in hospital."

Within the first minute of speaking, Derek and Karen realised that they had a friend in common and, with that, the date was off to a flying start.

Sharing horror stories from their time on dating apps, the two quickly delved into their past relationships, with Derek explaining that he had been engaged once before.

"We travelled the world, we bought a house - the whole shebang - and then six months out from the wedding, that was it. Done and dusted. Gone," he told cameras.

Following the seperation, Derek says that his cat "saved his life" by keeping him company though the low moments, helping to ease his lonliness.

"I'm very happy person but there is times where you're just like, I just want someone there with me," he says. "I just want to be happy, you know? I've got a lot of love to give."

Before long the two were discussing potential children, beloved pets and shared interests over dessert.

"We just hit it off straight into it," beams Derek. "As the date went on and the personality came out, you were like, she's unreal, like. Perfect date. Perfect."

"He has the same values as me," says Karen. "He wants to get married, he wants to have kids. You found me that unicorn."

Before the date was over, the First Dates team asked the all important question to Derek: If Karen was a biscuit, what biscuit would she be? "All of them put together".