Flirting Over Fries: How Chicken Shop Date Is Finger-Lickin’ Awkward

“Can you read?” is typically not a question you want to ask on a first date (if you’re hoping for a second) unless you’re Amelia Dimoldenberg. Don’t be offended—it’s just part of her charm. This is the same charm that attracted over 2.8 million subscribers to her YouTube channel Chicken Shop Date and earned her more than 670 million views. 

Picking out a new chicken shop in London for every video, Dimoldenberg invites celebrities of all kinds on a “date.” Hugh Jackman. Cher. Dominic Fike. SZA. Elmo. You name it. All of these high-profile personalities flock to the show to be flirted with over chicken tenders and fries. But if you’ve ever watched an episode of Chicken Shop Date, you know this is not a picture-perfect date by any means. There are no rose petals, lit candlesticks, or gentle classical music playing in the background. Rather, the scenes cut abruptly between nearly silent, lifeless clips of the particular chicken shop the interview is held in and clips of Dimoldenberg ungracefully flirting with a deadpan attitude.

As part of her persona for Chicken Shop Date, Dimoldenberg purposely creates an awkward, but not uncomfortable, atmosphere. She asks somewhat absurd questions such as “If you were an ice cream cone, would you prefer to be licked or bitten?” or “Do you kiss on the first date?” to catch the interviewees off guard. She establishes a comical rapport with them amidst the intense flirtation. In a British Vogue interview, Dimoldberg reveals that the reason she puts on this awkward character is to reassure the guests and, in a way, disarm them. If she is the strangest person in the room, they automatically feel less pressure to appear “smooth,” instead feeling comfortable enough to shed their usual media persona. Dimoldenberg essentially breaks down the barrier the celebrity normally puts between the public and themselves, creating a casual, down to earth environment where both parties can banter freely.

Dimoldenberg’s success can be attributed to the fact that she does not hold back. She casually poses the questions we are all afraid to ask. Take Paul Mescal for example. Millions have fawned over his physique due to his tendency to stroll around in short shorts, or what GQ has described as “thigh-grazing gym shorts,” but only Dimoldenberg has dared to ask him how exactly he got his thighs. The red carpet might not be the appropriate place to ask such a question, but a chicken shop date certainly is (the answer is Gaelic football). She doesn’t hesitate to bring celebrities down a notch either, in a joking manner of course. Talking to Lando Norris, a Formula 1 Driver who has won four Grand Prix, she asks what the fastest speed he’s ever driven. At his answer of 230 mph, she calls it “disappointing” and cheekily remarks that she thinks he “could go faster than that.”

The “date” setup of Chicken Shop Date is yet another unconventional aspect of her channel and appears to be what attracts the majority of her viewers. While late-night talk shows also touch upon the art of flirting, none go as far as to outrightly call it a “date,” nor are many held by a woman. Viewers of Chicken Shop Date know they have (virtually) no chance to ever go out with their celebrity crush and thus they live vicariously through Dimoldenberg. While they may not be there in person, they are able to take a peek at what this date would entail. Just look at Hugh Jackman—no one ever thought they would be able to witness Jackman agreeing that he could “probably” bench press them, but thanks to Chicken Shop Date, they can experience that allure firsthand. 

Dimoldenberg had mastered the fine art of interviewing, managing to draw guests into personal conversations without coming off as abrasive or intrusive. This can be proven by the celebrities’ mad dash to get a spot on this show, and their overwhelming positive response after taking part. Dimoldeberg revealed she turned down “everyone apart from one” at a recent talent meeting, and has been scouted by Kylie Jenner, who told Dimoldenberg to “call her,” at 2023 Paris Fashion Week. The general sentiment towards Dimoldenberg can be summed up by Andrew Garfield at the 2023 Golden Globes when he exclaimed “I only ever want to see you in these kinds of situations!” It seems not only the viewers but also the celebrities are happily welcoming this new shift in interviewing style.

While her tactics may seem puzzling to some, there is no doubt they work. Even if you had no clue who the celebrity in the video was at the beginning, by the end of the date, you’ll know their personality inside and out. Flirting, even if it is done awkwardly, might just be the best way to get to know someone. 

Sources

Zinoman, Jason. “‘Chicken Shop Date’ and the Art of Talk-Show Flirtation.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 15 Nov. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/11/15/arts/television/comedy-flirting-chicken-shop-date.html. 

Wong, Chloe Shannon. “Why Celebrities Flock to ‘Chicken Shop Date.’” The Stanford Daily, 26 Sept. 2024, stanforddaily.com/2024/09/25/chicken-shop-date/. 

Dimoldenberg, Amelia. “ANDREW GARFIELD | CHICKEN SHOP DATE.” YouTube, YouTube, 18 Oct. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFS5vxYlfY8&t=466s.  

Snapes, Laura. “‘Awkwardness Is Part of Life’: Amelia Dimoldenberg on Chicken Shop Date and Flirting with Andrew Garfield.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 29 Apr. 2023, www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/apr/29/amelia-dimoldenberg-interview-chicken-shop-date-oscars-red-carpet. 

GQ on Instagram: ‘We Know by Now That Paul Mescal Is the Unofficial Poster Boy of Thigh-Grazing Gym Shorts. but When He’s Not Driving up Sales of Elevated Gym Class Staples, He’s Probably on the Red Carpet Flipping Typical Formalwear on Its a Head. at the Link in Bio, We Break down His Latest Black-Tie Ensemble.” Instagram, 18 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/gq/p/DChU2iyhz0_/?hl=en. 

Ellis, Maddie. “How Real Are Amelia Dimoldenberg’s ‘Chicken Shop’ Dates? She’ll Never Tell.” TODAY.Com, TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024, www.today.com/popculture/amelia-dimoldenberg-chicken-shop-date-interview-rcna174766. 

Lloyd, Kate. “How Chicken Shop Date’s Amelia Dimoldenberg Turned Teen ‘Delusion’ into Hollywood Domination.” Vogue, 21 Apr. 2024, www.vogue.com/article/amelia-dimoldenberg-chicken-shop-date-interview. 

British Vogue. “Amelia Dimoldenberg & Lauren Laverne: The Art of the Interview | British Vogue & YouTube.” YouTube, YouTube, 4 Oct. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIi6lkTy1-w.

Dimoldenberg, Amelia. “PAUL MESCAL | CHICKEN SHOP DATE.” YouTube, YouTube, 26 Jan. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1T_mVGe0hk. 

Dimoldenberg, Amelia. “LANDO NORRIS | CHICKEN SHOP DATE.” YouTube, YouTube, 22 Mar. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=063FqEfBTns.