Every week, the Daily Mail asks two singletons to report back from their Blind Date. This week, Jemma and Patrick recount their dinner date experience. Read on to find out how it went...

Jemma, 41

Vital statistics: Single for six years, one daughter, 24.

Current role: Cyber security consultant.

Would like to meet: A kind, intelligent man who is curious about the world and doesn’t think relationship consistency is an optional extra.

Dating past?

Since having my daughter at 17, I’ve had a couple of long-term relationships but have been single for six years now. I’d rather be happily single than unhappily coupled. I do get men trying to scam me but, thanks to my job, I can spot them straight away.

Today’s dating scene is worrying. A lot of women who accept dates from men who aren’t who they say they are online could be just one date away from being murdered.

Pre-date nerves?

No, I’m always authentically me. My team at work was almost more invested in the date than I was. In the run-up, I kept being asked, ‘When’s the wedding?’

Jemma is looking for man who is clever and kind, but says she would rather be happily single than unhappily coupled

First Impressions?

I gave Patrick a hug when he arrived. I’m 5ft 2in and was wearing five-inch heels, yet I was taller than him. I tell people I grew until I was perfect. Apparently, he is 5ft 8in – I’m not sure that is true.

Patrick didn’t pay me a compliment. Did I find him attractive? No. But he did have tidy hair.

Easy to talk to?

For the first hour, I asked the questions and Patrick answered them. His parents live in Norway. He talked a lot about being sent to boarding school. I did tell him that I left school with two GCSEs. Patrick was utterly disrespectful, saying: ‘Wow! That’s poor.’

I had to pull rank and list the public speaking I do and explain how my career has taken off. I grew up in care and did explain this to him. Patrick merely replied: ‘That’s why your education is so poor, then.’ He is a rude and opinionated man.

Embarrassing moments?

For me, no. I did have to laugh because, despite Patrick’s expensive education and degree, he still couldn’t work out the bill.

Did sparks fly?

No. At one point, Patrick asked what I thought of him, and I am kicking myself for not telling him the truth. He asked me to walk to the station with him. I couldn’t bear another 35 minutes with him, so I suggested we share a cab.

See him again?

Absolutely not. I’d like to give him feedback on his manners though. When he said my education was poor, I told him I’d been named as one of the most Influential Women in Tech twice in a row.

Jemma, who grew up in care, thinks boarding-school-educated Patrick had an 'utterly disrespectful' reaction to her GCSE results

What do you think he thought of you?

Hard work? Patrick only told me I looked good at the end of the date. He wants a more traditional-housewife-type who isn’t his equal.

Would your friends like him?

No, they wouldn’t be OK with someone reacting so negatively to my story.

Patrick, 49

Vital statistics: Single for 13 years, no children.

Current role: IT network engineer.

Would like to meet: A good listener who’s patient and can cook. I’m not interested in a woman who doesn’t want to cook.

Dating past?

I was 35 when I divorced. It was an arranged marriage, but it fell apart instantly because we were a mismatch. Since then, I’ve dated five women, with my longest relationship lasting three years. I’m an eternal romantic and optimist because I’d like to have a child.

Pre-date nerves?

Well, a bit. The dating scene is so difficult because women are so picky. They just aren’t prepared to see past any imperfections. On a first date, educated, intelligent women will tell you: ‘I know after a minute if I am going to sleep with you.’ It’s terrifying at times.

After being in an unsuccessful arranged marriage, IT network engineer Patrick knows what he wants – and he's not interested in women who can't cook

First impressions?

Good! Jemma asked if I wanted a handshake or a hug. We went for a hug. She’s curvy but, if I’m honest, I prefer women with a bit more meat on them. She has a nice smile and her hair isn’t quite blonde, but the colour suited her. We’d got off to a good start.

Easy to talk to?

Yes. Jemma works in cyber security. It isn’t quite engineering, but she’s exposed to it, so we had a bit of common ground. Usually, you don’t find many women in my field.

She was very happy to let me talk. Jemma is a good listener and had good eye contact, too. She’s vegetarian and, while that’s not necessarily a red flag, she’d need to be open to me eating meat.

Embarrassing moments?

I dropped my knife, but it was so loud in the restaurant that the ambient noise drowned it out, luckily.

Did sparks fly?

At first, no. But throughout our lunch, I could see she warmed up to me. She even asked me to join her in her Uber to the station.

I flirted a bit – I held eye contact but was careful around her personal space. As a guy, you can’t come on too strong nowadays. I did tell Jemma she looked nice.

Patrick held eye contact throughout their date and says he felt a romantic vibe towards the end

See her again?

Yes, although I deliberately didn’t ask for her number. While I felt there was a romantic vibe towards the end, I didn’t want to mess things up by asking for her contact details when my train had just arrived. It was a bit rushed and I could have missed it.

What do you think she thought of you?

After the meal she became more relaxed. Her body language changed and she seemed less defensive. She was probably nervous during the first half of the date.

Would your family like her?

I'm sure my mum – who I am close to – would be happy about Jemma. She’s a good conversationalist and can hold her own.