This morning’s discussion of the proposals for an increased license fee by the BBC caused me to wonder if any portion of the increased fee would be spent to improve the BBC’s dating website. Never seen it? Check it out! Here are some great little BBC nuggets on chatting someone up:

Also, your approach will have to be a little different, depending on where you
are. In the park for instance, you need to have a light and easy banter -
“Where’s the caf� or pavilion?” whereas in a pub or club you can be a bit more
cheeky and flirty.

But here’s the best one:

Make sure you’re looking good; prepare yourself as if you are going out
(dress accordingly, even if it’s only a supermarket you still want to look the
business).

Choose a trolley rather than a basket as this offers you more mobility.
Scrutinise the trolleys and baskets of fellow shoppers - when you notice the
frozen meal for one or a lone bottle of chardonnay make your approach.

The wine section is always a good choice. Ice breakers you could use
are: “Excuse me, sorry to interrupt but I’m cooking pasta tonight and only
usually drink white wine - my guests are all into red, can you recommend
something?” or “Excuse me (again ’sorry to interrupt’ shows good manners,
another attractive quality) I wonder if you can help me, I know nothing about
white wine could you recommend something to go with salmon steaks?”.

Or try the OfcomWatch-endorsed approach: Balance all your groceries on your head and ask if you can share her trolley because there are none left.

Folks, don’t laugh, this is a BBC public service designed to address a serious market failure. There are loads of bad daters in the U.K.

Other ideas for increased BBC license fee proceeds to: blog@ofcomwatch.co.uk