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‘Chicken Shop Date’ Is Ending Because Celebrities Came on to Promote Their Work, Not to Date Me

Amelia Dimoldenberg jokes about why 'Chicken Shop Date' is ending on SNL U.K., calling celebrity guests more interested in promotion than romance.

By mitch·2 min read
A dimly lit chicken shop setting evokes the romantic premise of a celebrity interview show.

Amelia Dimoldenberg revealed earlier this month that her hit celebrity interview show, “Chicken Shop Date,” is ending. On Saturday night, she made the announcement with a joke during her monologue on “SNL U.K.” The monologue came at the end of a week where she had spent time with Andrew Garfield, who recently appeared on the show promoting his film.

“I found out something devastating. Apparently, these celebrities weren’t coming on to date me,” Dimoldenberg said. “They were coming on to promote their work!”

Garfield’s Film

Dimoldenberg then singled out Andrew Garfield, whose recent appearance on the show involved a film promotion. She framed the revelation as a personal disappointment before moving on to her next target.

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“I’m incredibly privileged to have done so many interviews with people like Idris Elba, Cher, and even a world famous red-headed puppet with a hand up his arse telling him what to say,” she said as an image of Elmo appeared.

“No, the other one!” she quipped as Sheeran’s face flashed on screen.

Sheeran’s Controversy

Dimoldenberg’s reference to Sheeran was a direct dig at the current dispute. By naming him and then correcting herself, she turned a standard celebrity mention into a sharp commentary on the show’s purpose. The joke played on the idea that Sheeran was the person she actually meant to mention, not the puppet.

Early Days and Advice

Dimoldenberg ended her monologue by looking back at her start in a youth center in London, where she learned that “I am an awkward girl, and there’s no shame in that. Just huge profit.”

She continued: “I am proof that you don’t have to stop being awkward to be successful … I am proof that you should always be yourself. Be yourself on ‘Chicken Shop Date.’ Be yourself on the Oscars red carpet. Be yourself in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2.’ Be yourself in your upcoming rom-com. Be yourself in all of the sketches during ‘Saturday Night Live U.K.'”

The final line tied the show’s identity to her own personality. “Just like the chickens I love to eat,” Dimoldenberg concluded, “you don’t have to have range.”

“You don’t have to have range.”

Dimoldenberg’s final line about range was a reminder that her success came from being herself. The show ended with laughter, and it left the audience with a simple piece of advice: be yourself, no matter where you stand.

See the video the story is built around at Variety.

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