First Dates viewers fall in love with Dawn, 71, and Phil, 60

Australia fell in love with gossip columnist Dawn, 71, and special education therapist Phil, 60, on Thursday night’s premiere of First Dates. 

The couple immediately caught the attention of viewers who fell hook, line and sinker for their charm, charisma and go-for-it attitude – and hearts melted across the nation.   

‘Dawn and Phil are lovely,’ one fan gushed on Twitter, and they certainly weren’t alone as a chorus of well-wishers soon followed. 

‘I’m stanning dawn and phil so hard already, he brought her a koala!!!!!!!’ wrote another fan.  

‘Phil and Dawn – the love story I didn’t know I was needing right now! Pls universe let them work out!!’ added a third.  

While one viewer seemed to echo the feelings of so many on the social media platform. ‘Phil and Dawn are gorgeous,’ the wrote.

“‘Are you free if he’s chickened out?’ she says to the barman.” Gotta love that attitude,’ another fan wrote, quoting Dawn’s cheekiness. 

Chemistry: After introductions, Phil gifted Dawn with a stuffed koala named ‘Cuddles’ and spoke of his divorce

It didn’t take long for Dawn and Phil to click during the episode.

After introductions, Phil gifted Dawn with a stuffed koala named ‘Cuddles’ and spoke of his divorce. 

Soon after, Dawn revealed she travelled around Australia for eight months in her motorhome with her travel companion, a blow-up doll named ‘Dickie’. 

‘I think we are witnessing two people falling in love,’ a First Dates bartender noted. 

Too cute: ‘Dawn and Phil are lovely,’ one fan gushed on Twitter, and they certainly weren’t alone as a chorus of well-wishers soon followed

Elsewhere in the episode, Dawn revealed the crushing story that her husband of 33 year died from early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.  

‘When my husband passed away I decided I wouldn’t sit around and be sad,’ Dawn said during a piece-to-camera.  

‘You can’t take people for granted. Hug them and tell them you love them,’ she added.   

Gorgeous: Soon after, Dawn revealed she travelled around Australia for eight months in her motorhome with her travel companion, a blow-up doll named ‘Dickie’ 

He’s all in: At the end of the show, Phil was quick to admit they he was up for a second date with Dawn, and the feeling was mutual

At the end of the show, Phil was quick to admit they he was up for a second date with Dawn, and the feeling was mutual.    

‘I’ve got a bit of a crush on you, Phil,’ Dawn said.  

‘[I’m excited] at the fact I might have met a nice man that I can spend some time with, to get to know a little bit better.’      

Happy: ‘[I’m excited] at the fact I might have met a nice man that I can spend some time with, to get to know a little bit better,’ said Dawn