This week on Telling Tinder Tales, hosts Chris O’Neill and Thomasin Lockwood are joined by comedian and viral sketch star Ali Woods for one of the wildest dating stories we’ve ever heard.

Ali calls in from Hackney (freshly moved in with his partner, no less) to share a jaw-dropping tale from his early 20s, back when dating apps, bad decisions, and cheap Sauvignon Blanc ruled his love life. From meeting at the Clapham Grand to a date spiralling out of control in central London, this episode covers everything from toxic first-date behaviour and unhinged flirting to the stranger, more absurd side of modern dating culture.

Along the way, the gang dive into:

• Dating apps vs meeting in real life
• Sliding into DMs and dating as a comedian
• Power dynamics, boundaries, and red flags on first dates
• Why being single isn’t a “character flaw”
• How your dating life shapes comedy, creativity, and confidence
• Why some dates are better as stories than relationships

It’s hilarious, uncomfortable, chaotic, and surprisingly thoughtful — a classic Telling Tinder Tales episode that proves sometimes the worst dates make the best laughs.

🎤 Guest: Ali Woods (stand-up comedian, Instagram & TikTok creator) @aliwoodsgigs

If you love dating podcasts, real Tinder stories, comedy podcasts, or hearing comedians unpack disastrous romantic encounters, this episode is for you.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, rate, and review the podcast — it really helps us grow. 📩 Got your own wild dating story? Email us at tellingtindertales@gmail.com 🎟️ Check out our live shows in Leicester, Glasgow, and more — and follow us on socials @tellingtindertales for dates and updates.

Because no matter how bad the date… at least you’ll get a great story out of it.

📍Topics: Dating horror stories, Tinder dates, comedy & relationships, London dating, bad first dates 😂 Vibe: Funny, raw, unfiltered, and brutally honest

Hosts/Producers: Chris O'Neill & Thomasin Lockwood

Producer/Editor: Lucie Regan

Edit Assistant: Leo Dunlop