A FORMER teacher who lives in Weymouth will be appearing on ITV’s This Morning today after taking part in the show's second series of ‘Matchmaker Mountain’.
Following on from the success of the first series, This Morning has once again teamed up with Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas to help a new group of six over 50 singletons find everlasting love.
Don Whistance moved to Dorset after falling in love with the area and taught in the county’s schools for more than 20 years.
He applied to the show after his daughters Chloe and Chiara persuaded him to enter. He said he hoped to find a partner that had a sense of humour and a nice personality.
Don says he finds laughter in every situation and has a Monty Python style of humour.
This series was set in the idyllic Umbrian mountains, also known as the ‘Green heart of Italy.’ Shirley Ballas said: “I’m hoping that the ultimate romance of Italy will inspire them to find love. The chemistry this series is electric.”
With Shirley as their matchmaker and having been whisked away to the Italian mountainside retreat, throughout the show the lucky group have embarked on a series of dates as they get close to their partners.
On the first day of their romantic getaway, the three men and three women met at a drinks reception to break the ice.
The next day the singletons had the privilege of being taught how to dance the Viennese Waltz by Shirley Ballas herself.
Don was paired up with Mancunian Sharon, who said on the show that her dream man would be celebrity chef James Martin.
The next day the couples stayed together to go on a date, with Don and Sharon trying their hand at making chocolate liqueurs together.
Don said: “It was quite interesting actually, there was a bit of a Ghost moment and some slapstick with the chocolate on the nose and on the lips.
“It was a lovely occasion in a lovely setting.”
He wouldn't give anything away but, when asked how he found the experience of taking part in the show, Don said: “Once you get past that initial ‘What am I doing here?’ stage it’s very relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable.”
Watch the final part of ‘Matchmaker Mountain’ on This Morning today at 10.30am on ITV to find out if Don found love on the show.
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