When Cilla Black retired from fixing up blind dates, television was left without a resident matchmaker. Now ITV1 puts that right by introducing not one, but two people to find mates for singletons.

The title, Holly & Fearne Go Dating, pretty much says it all as former model and Dancing On Ice presenter Holly Willoughby teams up with Top Of The Pops and Radio One presenter Fearne Cotton to help others find love.

"I've always liked setting people up and take great delight in playing Cupid," says Willoughby, who was discovered by Storm modelling agency at the age of 14 while on a school trip.

"There's nothing greater than getting that tingling feeling that two people might just be great together if only you could get them together."

Cotton, who started out in children's TV shows like Disney Club and Diggit, echoes those sentiments. "Like Holly, I've always loved the idea that I could set two people up who would really hit it off and make a great couple," she says. "And a big reason for doing the show was that I get to spend loads of time with my best friend."

The show has the pair taking a single person looking for love, spending time with them to see what makes them tick and what they want in a partner. They then set out to find them two dates - one chosen by Holly, the other by Fearne.

'When the date happens, time is spent with both potential partners and, at the end of the night, we wait, nervously, to see if there's any chance of romance. We also see who's chosen the best potential partner. "I, of course, want to beat Holly desperately," says Cotton.

In real life, they have a mixed success rate. Willoughby admits that her Cupid's arrow has been a little off-course on occasion. Fearne recalls setting up one of her boy mates with one of her friend's mates. Now they have a baby and she's godmother.

Their approach to finding a partner means that those looking for love can expect to encounter different types of potential dates. Willoughby is a "complete romantic", explaining, "My thinking is that how will you ever find your prince if you don't start kissing some frogs? Just get on with it. Whereas I think Fearne's approach is more direct and a little bit cheeky."

Cotton agrees she's more mischievous in her matchmaking skills but that makes it all the more fun.

There's a competitive edge to see which of them is more successful at pairing off singletons. If a wedding does result from their efforts, Willoughby reckons it would be one of the happiest moments of her life. And if it does happen, she hopes there's an invitation for both of them.

"I absolutely agree," says Cotton. "And what would be even better is if it were my choice of partner who gets hitched. I would buy a big red hat and cry the whole way through the ceremony".

Filming the six-part series wasn't without lighter moments. Cotton recalls driving along in the open-top car they use in the series, sitting in the passenger seat and chatting away. "All of a sudden, this pigeon flew towards the car and one of its feathers lodged in my mouth. I thought I was going to choke, it was quite horrible," she says.

The pair have been all over the country matchmaking, including in a snow dome in the Midlands and at a pub quiz in Leeds. They also went to a big green festival and a fashion show.

Both of them have been set up on dates in the past. "Even when they don't work out, I've had some great fun on the dates and the anticipation of going out with someone new is really exciting," says Willoughby.

"I once went out on a really awful blind date where the guy I was set up with went off and snogged another girl in the club we were in and I caught him out," adds Cotton.

Next for Willoughby is StreetMate for ITV2, coming in the autumn, in which she runs up and down streets all over the country asking people if they're single and fancy going on a date. Cotton is currently presenting The Xtra Factor on ITV2 as well as doing a show on Radio One every weekend.

* Holly & Fearne Go Dating is on ITV on Wednesday and Thursday at 10pm.