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​Fish And Rice Cake Guy Admits Viral Clip Has Made Dating Hard As He Appears On First Dates

​Fish And Rice Cake Guy Admits Viral Clip Has Made Dating Hard As He Appears On First Dates

Danny Andrews, 31, became an accidental internet sensation after he featured in a 2007 documentary about body-building

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

The guy who found viral fame for eating nothing but 'fish and rice cakes' has admitted the well-known clip made dating hard for him, having appeared in a new series of First Dates in a bid to find love.

Danny Andrews, 31, became an accidental internet sensation after he featured in a 2007 BBC Three documentary called Babyfaced Bodybuilders.

He memorably told viewers: "Eight o'clock in the morning I'll have fish and a rice cake. At 10 o'clock, I'll have fish. At 12 o'clock, I'll have fish and a rice cake. At two o'clock, I'll have fish. At four o'clock - just before I train - I'll have fish and a rice cake. I'll train, I'll have me fish. I'll come home, have some more fish, with a rice cake, and then have some more fish before I go to bed."

While he only followed the restrictive diet for a couple of weeks before a competition, it's now become his legacy - much to his frustration.

Channel 4

In a new episode of First Dates, Danny explained he can't escape the video, and that at times it's even put prospective partners off - recalling how one woman once 'phased' him out after learning about his viral past.

Speaking to LADbible, Danny - who had turned up to the First Dates restaurant tanked up on five pints to counter his nerves - said it's particularly tough as the dating scene has 'changed' so much since he was last single, having been in a long-term relationship for several years.

He explained: "This time round - especially because of the lockdowns - dating's totally different.

"It's all online, so if somebody types me into Google or anything like that, the only thing they've got to know of me is that video.

"You're not gonna really want to meet the idiot in that video - I definitely try and meet them before they find that out."

He added: "The only reference they've got of me is a video from when I was like 17, and I'm 31 now. If I had to judge somebody off a video of them at 17, I'm sure they wouldn't be happy either."

Danny, who now owns a barber shop in Preston, said he often feels like he has to laugh along when people bring it up.

He continued: "I think it's absolutely crazy. It's obviously been, like, 15 years. And still, I must hear it at least three or four times a week.

"Even my work colleagues will roll their eyes and be like, 'Danny, even I'm sick of it!'

Instagram/Danny Andrews

Instagram/Danny Andrews

"And people shout out the cars and stuff as I'm walking somewhere - they'll shout 'Fish and a rice cake!'

"They'll think it's funny."

Thankfully, these days the fish-and-rice-cake diet is a distant memory for Danny, who assures us he now eats 'just like a normal person'. Ironically, he also hates fish, unless it's from the chippy and deep-fried in batter.

He said: "Yesterday I had a KFC for dinner [that's lunch for those of you down South]. I had Weetabix for my breakfast and a pizza for my tea.

"But day-to-day I'll eat chicken and potatoes, sweet potato chips... I'll eat healthily, but I just don't enjoy salad."

Instagram/Danny Andrews

Danny said he's not often inspired to cook as he lives alone, but reckons he'll enjoy it more when he finds a girlfriend.

Revealing what would be on the menu for that special someone, he said: "Spaghetti bolognese and garlic bread.

"Or a lasagne from scratch, I can do a lasagne from scratch as well."

Watch Danny as he returns to the First Dates restaurant next Tuesday (2 February) on Channel 4. You can also watch tonight's episode on All 4 now.

Featured Image Credit: Channel 4

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, Dating, first dates, UK Entertainment