# Awkward Dates

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***Awkward Dates*** is a South African [YouTube](/source/YouTube) dating show created and hosted by [Lasizwe](/source/Lasizwe), and produced by his production company TD Media. The show follows Lasizwe going on blind dates with various celebrities.[1]

The first YouTube video was posted in August 2023, and as of October 2024, 76 episodes have been released.

The show has been nominated at the 2024 [South African Film and Television Awards](/source/South_African_Film_and_Television_Awards), in the Best Online Content category.[2]

On 12 April 2025, the show premiered on [Mzansi Magic](/source/Mzansi_Magic) following its online success.[3]

In June 2025, the show was removed from [DSTV](/source/DSTV) by [MultiChoice](/source/MultiChoice). The decision reportedly followed the claim that most guests demanded to be paid. The guests claimed to have agreed only to appear on [YouTube](/source/YouTube) and not mainstream TV. This situation forced [Lasizwe](/source/Lasizwe) and Multichoice to terminate their contract.[4]

In August 2025, the show returned to television on [Mzansi Magic](/source/Mzansi_Magic) after Lasizwe had initially terminated the contract with [DSTV](/source/DSTV).[5]

## Background

Awkward Dates involves Lasizwe meeting celebrity guests at local restaurants for a date, where they engage in casual, awkward, and sometimes hilarious conversations.[6]

The first season of Awkward Dates showed viewers all the awkwardness that happens on first dates. This included not being able to use some utensils correctly, as well as some uncomfortable small talk. Lasizwe's sister [Khanyi Mbau](/source/Khanyi_Mbau), brother Lungile, friend Mihlali Ndamase, including musicians [Kamo Mphela](/source/Kamo_Mphela), Toss and politician [Mmusi Maimane](/source/Mmusi_Maimane), were the first celebrities featured on season 1.[7][8]

## List of episodes

No. Date of Episode Guest Ref. 1 4 August 2023 Mmusi Maimane 2 11 August 2023 Toss 3 18 August 2023 Kamo Mphela 4 25 August 2023 Mihlali Ndamase 5 1 September 2023 Lungile (Lasizwe's brother) 6 8 September 2023 Khanyi Mbau 7 15 September 2023 Kwenzo Ngcobo 8 22 September 2023 Ntando Duma 9 29 September 2023 Seemah 10 6 October 2023 Minnie Dlamini [9] 11 13 October 2023 Cyan Boujee 12 22 October 2023 Faith Nketsi 13 29 October 2023 Vusi Nova 14 5 November 2023 Londie London 15 12 November 2023 Bontle Modiselle 16 19 November 2023 Dawn Thandeka King 17 26 November 2023 DJ Sbu 18 3 December 2023 Anele Zondo 19 7 December 2023 Nadia Nakai 20 2 February 2024 Its Thandooo 21 9 February 2024 Clement Maosa 22 16 February 2024 Zola Nombona 23 23 February 2024 Primo (Primo9teen) Baloyi 24 1 March 2024 Unathi Nkayi 25 8 March 2024 Libho Geza 26 15 March 2024 Rami Chuene 27 22 March 2024 Maps Maponyane 28 28 March 2024 Just Daddy G (Gontse) 29 4 April 2024 Junior De Rocka 30 11 April 2024 Sandile Mahlangu 31 18 April 2024 Thando Thabethe 32 25 April 2024 Zillewizzy 33 9 May 2024 Tshepo Koke 34 16 May 2024 Yanda Woods 35 23 May 2024 Manaka Ranaka 36 30 May 2024 Ghost Hlubi 37 4 June 2024 Moghelingz 38 6 June 2024 Jesse Suntele 39 11 June 2024 Mologadi (Titus) & Lungile 40 13 June 2024 JosephDary 41 18 June 2024 Dominic Zaca & Lungile 42 20 June 2024 The Funny Chef 43 25 June 2024 Khaya Dlala & Lungile 44 27 June 2024 BU (Luthando) 45 2 July 2024 Ntokozo Mahlinza & Lungile 46 4 July 2024 Linda Mtoba [10] 47 9 July 2024 Nomsa Buthelezi & Lungile 48 19 July 2024 Sean (Rockets Owner) 49 23 July 2024 Pearl Thusi & Lungile 50 11 August 2024 Elaine 51 18 August 2024 Zee Nxumalo 52 20 August 2024 Mpho Popps 53 27 August 2024 Liema Pantsi 54 3 September 2024 Khosi Thwala 55 10 September 2024 DBN Gogo 56 17 September 2024 Christall Kay 57 19 September 2024 Zintle Mofokeng & Ntokozo Mahlinza 58 24 September 2024 Sphokuhle N 59 27 September 2024 Siyamthanda 60 2 October 2024 Mapaseka Koetle 61 4 October 2024 Nobantu Vilakazi & Ntokozo Mahlinza 62 9 October 2024 Tsitsi Chiumy 63 11 October 2024 Letroy Mashigo 64 16 October 2024 Nonku Williams 65 21 October 2024 Kagiso Magola & Lungile 66 24 October 2024 Seekay 67 6 November 2024 Boity 68 19 November 2024 Mduduzi Mabaso 69 21 November 2024 Gugu Mandela 70 26 November 2024 Celeste Ntuli 71 27 November 2024 Coachella Randy 72 5 December 2024 Julius Malema [11] 73 17 December 2024 Kwesta 74 31 December 2024 Andile 75 16 January 2025 Kenneth Nkosi 76 21 January 2025 Khanyisa 77 27 January 2025 Paballo 78 5 February 2025 Priddy Ugly 79 11 February 2025 Minenhle Sithole 80 19 February 2025 Wian 81 23 February 2025 Zuki Lamani 82 28 February 2025 Anele Mdoda 83 22 May 2025 Zozibini Tunzi 84 29 May 2025 Sol Phenduka 85 5 June 2025 Asavela 86 14 June 2025 Simon Kaggwa Njala 87 19 June 2025 Nkosazana Daughter 88 27 June 2025 Brain Jotter 89 3 July 2025 Zakes Bantwini 90 10 July 2025 JoJo Robinson 91 20 July 2025 Laconco 92 1 August 2025 Tumi Seeco 93 14 August 2025 Lady Du 94 24 November 2025 Hope Mbhele 95 16 December 2025 DJ Speedsta 96 25 January 2026 Tumi Morake 97 29 January 2026 Yanda Woods & Zillewizzy 98 5 February 2026 Bontle Modiselle & Priddy Ugly 99 12 February 2026 Lungile & Mom 100 12 February 2026 Lungile & Mom 101 19 February 2026 Kamo Mphela 102 26 February 2026 Nandi Madida 103 5 March 2026 The Dambuza’s (Anika Dambuza & Sihile Dambuza)

## Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref. 2024 South African Film and Television Awards Best online content Awkward Dates [12]

## References

1. ["We sit down with SAFTA nominee Lasizwe to discuss his show 'Awkward Dates"](https://www.snl24.com/drum/celebs/news/we-sit-down-with-safta-nominee-lasizwe-to-discuss-his-show-awkward-dates-20240910). *Drum Magazine*. Retrieved 2024-02-12.

1. ["Lasizwe Gushes Over His Show Bagging A SAFTA Nomination"](https://youthvillage.co.za/2024/09/lasizwe-gushes-over-his-show-bagging-a-safta-nomination/) (in en-ZA). *youthvillage.co.za*. Retrieved 2024-10-20.

1. ["Lasizwe Gushes Over His Show Bagging A SAFTA Nomination"](https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/lasizwe-shows-off-proud-family-ahead-of-awkward-dates-tv-premiere-f7c569e0-82c4-4e6e-a5e3-9001b1d29a0e) (in en-ZA). *iol.co.za*. Retrieved 2025-04-14.

1. ["Controversy forces Lasizwe Dambuza and MultiChoice to split and take Awkward Dates off air"](https://www.news24.com/citypress/trending/controversy-forces-lasizwe-dambuza-and-multichoice-to-split-and-take-awkward-dates-off-air-20250628-0807) (in en-ZA). *news24.com*. Retrieved 2025-08-22.

1. ["Lasizwe Dambuza's 'Awkward Dates' is back on TV – get ready for the cringe and laughs"](https://iol.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/2025-08-27-lasizwe-dambuzas-awkward-dates-is-back-on-tv-get-ready-for-the-cringe-and-laughs/) (in en-ZA). *iol.co.za*. Retrieved 2025-11-12.

1. ["Lasizwe reveals how dark times inspired Awkward Dates"](https://www.bona.co.za/entertainment/lasizwe-reveals-how-dark-times-inspired-awkward-dates/) (in en-ZA). *bona.co.za*. Retrieved 2024-10-20.

1. ["Lasizwe Dambuza Launches Another Interesting Dating Show"](https://youthvillage.co.za/2024/08/lasizwe-dambuza-launches-another-interesting-dating-show/) (in en-ZA). *youthvillage.co.za*. Retrieved 2024-10-20.

1. ["Lasizwe reflects on all-star cast for ‘Awkward Dates’"](https://www.iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/entertainment/lasizwe-reflects-on-all-star-cast-for-awkward-dates-1ae728ad-01d1-4d00-890a-f29674bfee11#google_vignette) (in en-ZA). *iol.co.za*. Retrieved 2024-10-20.

1. ["WATCH: Minnie Dlamini goes on an awkward date with Lasizwe"](https://www.citizen.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/watch-minnie-dlamini-goes-on-an-awkward-date-with-lasizwe/) (in en-ZA). *citizen.co.za*. Retrieved 2024-10-20.

1. ["Linda Mtoba goes on a Awkward Date with Lasizwe"](https://www.bona.co.za/celebrity/interviews/linda-mtoba-goes-on-a-awkward-date-with-lasizwe/) (in en-ZA). *bona.co.za*. Retrieved 2024-10-20.

1. ["Julius Malema's ‘Awkward Date’ with Lasizwe Dambuza leaves fans in stitches"](https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/local/julius-malemas-awkward-date-with-lasizwe-dambuza-leaves-fans-in-stitches-4686f759-fad3-4d62-bbad-acbaececfbae) (in en-ZA). *iol.co.za*. Retrieved 2024-10-20.

1. ["2024's SAFTA nominations announced: See all the dominators and new categories at this year's event"](https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/tv/2024s-safta-nominations-announced-see-all-the-dominators-and-new-categories-at-this-years-event-20240905#google_vignette). *news24.com*. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.

## External links

- [Awkward Dates](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32059949/) at IMDb

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Awkward Dates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awkward_Dates) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awkward_Dates?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.