Gay First Dates star William didn’t find love – but he’s ‘much happier’

First Dates star William Laven says he’s “much happier” after returning to the show to find a husband, even though his match didn’t turn into a relationship.

Laven first appeared on the show in 2024 to find a wife. Since then, he has come out as gay and decided to return to the Channel 4 show for a second shot at love.

In the episode, which aired on 11 November, he was paired with Jamie. They shared a fun, flirty conversation, with each of them speaking openly and honestly about difficulties they’d faced while dating, including personal hang-ups.

Sadly, it didn’t lead to a romance, but, speaking to PinkNews, Laven says: “We’ve stayed in touch and we’re still friends.”

He adds: “It wasn’t quite the romantic ending either of us might have imagined, but that’s life. Not every date is going to turn into a relationship and I think that’s something we can all probably relate to.”

Laven, 27, tells us: “I honestly had a really lovely time. I have the utmost respect for him and we got along well.

“I think we were quite different people though, and although we had a laugh, the romantic spark wasn’t quite there for me.”

During the date, Jamie spoke of his love of beer and football, an interest Laven didn’t share.

He goes on: “You can meet someone who is lovely and still realise you’re not quite right for each other. It doesn’t mean you’ve had a bad date.

‘The romantic spark wasn’t quite there for me’

“I’ll always have a little connection with him because of the show and I’m really glad we met.”

Looking at how going on First Dates has changed his outlook on dating, Laven, who is neurodivergent and has a stammer, says: “The biggest thing I’ve realised is that people don’t see you in the same way you see yourself.

“I spent so much time worrying about my stammer, how I spoke and what people might think of me. I would almost decide how something was going to go before I’d even given it a chance.”

He adds: “Going on First Dates made me realise that I was capable of doing something that really scared me. And since then, I’ve kept pushing myself.

“I’m also much happier with who I am now. I don’t feel the same need to fit in or compare myself to everyone else. I think once you get to that point, dating becomes a lot more enjoyable because you’re not constantly worrying about whether someone is going to like you.

“You start thinking about whether you like them!”

And while romance wasn’t on the cards, Laven hopes his journey with the show can show everyone’s journey in life is different – and that’s absolutely fine!

“I spent so much time thinking I should have been doing certain things by a certain age,” he says. “My first date was at 25, I came out at 27 and here I am.

“Everyone has their own journey. You don’t need to rush into anything and you certainly don’t need to have everything worked out.

“Sometimes things happen when you least expect them. And sometimes, looking back, you realise you’re exactly where you need to be.”

First Dates airs Wednesdays at 10pm on Channel 4, and is available to stream online.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.