James Calls Michelle 'Melissa' on London Blind Date, Still Plots 2nd Outing

Q: After an awkward name slip and a broken heel, did James and Michelle's highly publicized blind date actually lead to lasting romance?

There is no evidence that James and Michelle’s Guardian blind date turned into a lasting romance. What is clear from the published account is that the evening went reasonably well. Despite James accidentally calling Michelle “Melissa” and Michelle breaking a heel at the end of the night, both described the date positively. He called her glamorous, easy-going and forgiving; she said he was warm, articulate and relaxed. They rated the date 7.5 and 7 out of 10, did not kiss, and both said they would be open to seeing each other again. James even said they were “plotting” another outing. But the available reporting goes no further than that. The Guardian blind date format captures immediate reactions after a first meeting, not long-term outcomes, and no follow-up material in the provided sources confirms a relationship, exclusivity, or anything lasting beyond the initial promise of a second date. So the most accurate answer is that the date showed some potential, but there is no verified public evidence that it became an enduring romance.

Q: What really happened on the second date between the radio presenter and the researcher after their Guardian match ended without a kiss?

There is no verified public account of what happened on a second date. From the Guardian blind date and the additional material, the only confirmed facts are that James, a researcher, and Michelle, a radio presenter, got on well, did not kiss on the first date, and both said they were open to meeting again. James said they were “plotting our next outing,” and Michelle said “Yes” when asked if she would meet again. Beyond that, no follow-up report, interview or published update in the provided material describes whether the second date actually took place, where it happened, or how it ended. So the most accurate answer is that the public record stops at mutual interest in seeing each other again. In short, what “really happened” after the no-kiss ending is not documented publicly in the sources available here.

2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 17

A name slip became the date’s standout moment when James accidentally called Michelle “Melissa” during their dinner at Duchy in London.
James still rated the evening 7.5 out of 10 and said they are already plotting another outing, describing Michelle as easy-going and forgiving after the mistake.
Michelle gave the date 7 out of 10, said James was warm and articulate, and also said she would meet him again.
Their conversation ranged from Birmingham and music to food, comedy and football, while the evening ended without a kiss or after-party on a Tuesday night.