Andy was cheered on by viewers after he came out (Picture: Channel 4)
First Dates Hotel viewers have cheered on Andy as he went on his first ever date after coming out as gay.
Fred Sirieix and the team paired up the 40-year-old hotelier with burly former bouncer Joe for a holiday romance in southern Italy.
After meeting for drinks, Andy spoke out about his nervousness, as he’d only come out to his family in 2016 as they were religious.
Joe was quick to congratulate him to the ‘best and most exclusive club in the world’.
‘I’ve tried my best to be masculine, my dad were in the army for 40-odd years, he knew that I were gay, surely he did,’ he said. ‘
I had a couple of girlfriends, my youth pastor always used to say, “if you go in on a date never sit in a room with the lights out, because you never know, things that go bump in the dark”. I’m like, “that’s not gonna happen with me”.
Andy and Joe were matched by the team (Picture: Channel 4)
‘Just growing up a church, you can’t be gay. It’s Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.’
Eventually telling his parents the truth, he added: ‘For me to say that then, it was unbelievable. And then my dad said “well, you know what, Elton John’s not done too bad for himself as he?”
‘It was kind of like, well, it’s alright, come here, give us a hug. To get the acceptance from my dad, is something that I’ll never forget.’
Joe eventually let him down as they were in ‘different places’ (Picture: Channel 4)
He later joked that he had lost his virginity to a Tinder date before his 40th birthday as he didn’t want to be ‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’.
Sadly, they weren’t to be, and while they left the show as friends, Andy seemed far more open with his sexuality, and had even enjoyed the party scene as a result.
In the final moments of the episode, he declared he was looking for ‘Mr Right… or Mr Right Now.’
Viewers cheered on Andy for his honesty, and for him finally being able to be his true self after so long.
Andy from Bolton and Joe from Darlington on #FirstDatesHotel are absolutely LOVELY. Honestly. Theyâ€
ll make your heart sing. — Tom Wells ðŸ’
(@womtells) March 31, 2021
Nobody should have to hide their sexuality whether youâ€
re Gay/Bi or straight. Really hope Andy has a good date with his 1st ever lad and if it doesnâ€
t work out gives him the confidence to be who he is like #FirstDatesHotel — Lilâ€
Shaq👊🻠(@shaqlockholmes) March 31, 2021
Awe Andy is so sweet! Itâ€
s so sad he†s felt he couldn†t be himself for most of his life. Love is love after all! I hope his date is well matched, he must be nervous going on his first date with a guy! #FirstDatesHotel — MissSeaPeaches (@MissSeaPeaches) March 31, 2021
Elsewhere on the episode, former RAF fighter Richard got emotional as he spoke to Emilia, opening up about eventually leaving the military after the death of his best friend.
He also had Asperger’s, meaning while he was brutally blunt, it meant he found it difficult to read other people’s signals.
Finally, police officer Angie looks like she’s in luck after hooking up with car salesman Tom, with the pair eventually sharing a snog at the end of the night.
Unfortunately, none of the couples were to last, and all returned to the UK single.
First Dates Hotel continues Wednesdays at 9pm on ITV.
Credit: Original article published here.The post First Dates Hotel: Viewers cheer on Andy as he goes on first ever date after coming out as gay aged 40 appeared on My Celebrity Life.