Awkward Moment On ‘First Dates’ Sparks Furious Twitter Row Over Who Should Pay

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Two contestants on TV show First Dates have left viewers divided - after the man asked the woman to pay half towards her meal.

The Channel 4 dating show partnered Brian with Mary for a date and things seemed to be going well between them until the waitress arrived with the bill.

Their meal came to £70.37 and the waitress asked: 'Are you just doing half and half?' To which Brian replied 'yep' and Mary said nothing at all.

Later, speaking to the camera, Mary said: 'Not to offer and say I'll pay, and then wait for me to say we'll go halves I was absolutely fuming. Fuming.'

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In front of Brian, she later said: 'Well, I thought Brian was very nice but, umm, I think you should have offered to pay the bill.'

Brian replied saying: 'I think when you first meet somebody you should always go halves, but that's just my opinion.'

Mary then made her feelings quite clear, saying: 'That was a big no-no for me.'

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You can watch the awkward moment here:

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Well, just as the issue divided Brian and Mary, it divided us viewers watching at home. Whether or not the man should offer to pay has sparked a fiery Twitter debate, with a whole lot of people weighing in with their opinions:

Twitter user Lidz said: 'I'm with Mary on this one! If a guy doesn't pay on the first date, he's definitely not getting a second! No no!'

Brian Allen agreed saying: 'No as a man you gotta offer to pay...'

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Some people thought that men and women should be equal and therefore they should pay half each.

Marian Collins also sided with tradition, tweeting: 'Mary fuming over the bill is hilarious! Yes he totally should of offered to pay the on a first date!'

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Others, however, disagreed, instead siding with what they thought was tradition and a man being a gentleman.

Josh, however, stuck up for Brian saying: 'Oh wow. It's a bit snobby of Mary to assume her date was going to pay for the whole meal. I'm pleased she did have to pay!'

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Calling Brian a 'tightwad', Selexia said: 'No wonder he hasn't found anyone. Selfish.'

Kate agreed saying 'Bloody hell Mary! Won't see him again because he didn't pay half?! You'll be single for a looooong time love.'

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Kelly Sotherton then joined in, saying: 'Mary expecting not to pay for her dinner and never has??!? It's the 21st century Mary !!'

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Part Cyborg, however, felt a little more empathetic to Mary and tweeted: 'Mary is from the generation where it would be an insult to the man to pay 1/2, let alone the man expect a woman to pay.'

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On today's This Morning, a poll showed that 57 per cent say it is old fashioned for a man to pay the bill.

Twitter was once again set alight and the debate continued.

Sally tweeted saying: 'I can't believe how many people actually think men have to pay the bill, I'm horrified.'

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Emma agreed, tweeting: 'Ugh no one should expect a free meal just because they're a woman. There's nothing wrong with splitting the bill.'

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Kate said: 'I think it's nice if a man pays on the first date because it shows he's not a tight bum.'

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Zombies strongly disagreed, citing gender equality and said: 'It's 2016! Equality isn't just in the workplace. I would offer to split the bill straight away. Romance doesn't depend on money.'

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The topic of gender equality continued, with Laura tweeting: 'It's all about equals these days. Either split the bill or take turns to treat the other. Why should girls always be treated?'

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On the ITV show however, TV presenter Lizzie Cundy argued that men should always pay on the first date, especially if they asked the woman out.

Watch the video:

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She said: ‘A man should pay if he's asked you on a date, if he is a gentleman.'

When asked if that means a woman shouldn't ask a man out, she said: ‘I like a man to chase a girl.'

She went on: ‘What is wrong with men paying? They should be honoured to have you there. Every woman wants to be treated, especially on a first date, it's embarrassing if he's breaking down the menu, who had a starter, who had wine.

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'It's kind for a man to pay and a lot of my friends agree with me.'

Presenter Ruth Langsford said: ‘I wouldn't expect a man to pay the bill, Eamonn did on our first date but he is old fashioned. I did offer to pay as I was a very independent girl.'

She added: ‘If I had teenager daughters I would tell them to pay their way on a date.'

Journalist Alison Phillips agreed, saying men shouldn't pay.

She said: 'We are perpetuating the idea that women need to be looked after and are princesses. We should encourage young girls to fight against it.'