If you’re not yet on board with Chicken Shop Date, you need to fix up and dedicate some valuable time to catching up on YouTube because it is pretty much everything you could ever ask for in an online dating show. For reals. Heavy claim to make, I know. But there's grime MC's trying to make small talk over fried chicken. It's great. And if you haven't already, you’ll understand when you’ve watched it.
Rather excitingly, this week we get to bring you the exclusive first look at the brand-new episode in which host, Amelia Dimoldenberg interviews her first female date, Maya Jama. On the agenda: whether or not Maya is the original Jama, how long to wait before texting a date and what Maya and Amelia have in common (spoiler: a lot, apparently).
**WATCH: Chicken Shop Date With Maya Jama **
Whether you’re already a dedicated fan of the show or this is a first-time watch for you, you've probably wondered a bit about how those 4-7 minutes of internet magic all come together. Us too. So we asked Amelia to answer some of our burning questions. Here's what we found out...
Why do you think Chicken Shop Date resonates so well with people, particularly those of our age group?
Well, I’m 23 and nearly everyone I’ve interviewed is around my age so I guess it’s like watching your mates on a date except this one is abnormally awkward and there are way more chicken nuggets involved. Also, the episodes are short which I’ve done on purpose, I think the longest one is 7mins, because I’ve read that young people online have the attention span of a goldfish.
Another reason could be because people are age are bored of the regular music interview that asks guests to pine of over their musical influences – I wanted to create something that didn’t take itself too seriously and was also kind of weird. I think young people like that about the show.
Big fan of Maya Jama over here - any particular reason why you wanted to do an episode with her?
Well I’m quite obsessed with Maya too, like most young women who have ever come across her (and men). I met her at a dinner organised by Julie Adenuga and she came up to me and told me she loved the show! I didn’t even think she would know who I was…at the time I was looking for the first female guest and as she has such great energy and is so funny, I thought she would be perfect. Especially as I had now met her and had her number so the whole thing was way easier to arrange – it’s so difficult for me to get guests to come on the show most of the time because I have no idea how to get to them.
What do you normally order to eat at the chicken shop? How much chicken do you think you have eaten so far since starting?
I get chicken nuggets and chips and a Mirinda. Every time. I don’t like chicken on the bone it’s too slimy. I've always been a fan of chicken, it’s really the only meat I eat. I eat the occasional sausage roll. I would say I eat chicken in some form at least 5 times a week.
Which sauce do you have?
Ketchup only. I am very picky my sauces, and food in general tbh. No burger sauce because it looks rank and definitely no chilli sauce I hate spice.
What’s the most difficult bit about filming the episodes?
Ah, that’s a hard one because there are lots of difficult parts. Probably getting a date in the first place, I’m very picky and most of the time the people I want to go out with aren't interested. You know how it is ladies! Also, the Bossmen at the chicken shops I go to often don’t want to let me film, they think I’m doing a hygiene inspection. I also find it difficult to choose what top to wear (only have to pick the top half of my outfit because I’m sitting down all the time)
Most awkward Chicken Shop encounter so far?
Santan Dave
Can you find true love over a fried chicken and chips?
I bloody hope so.
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Follow Jazmin on Instagram @JazKopotsha
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.