Amelia Dimoldenberg on Chicken Shop Date and Andrew Garfield

When we meet for lunch, Dimoldenberg is a flurry of energy. The 31-year-old slips into her seat at The National Portrait Gallery restaurant having arrived bang on time, talking a mile a minute. She’s fresh off the back of a two-week holiday and itching to return to work. ‘I’m not very good at relaxing,’ she says, taking off her leather jacket to reveal a grey cardigan underneath. ‘Over this last weekend I felt like, “Oh, my god. I need to work. I need to do something.” I’m invigorated and ready.’ Perhaps not surprising, considering her career is in the midst of something special.

Dimoldenberg grew up in central London, in a fourth-floor flat opposite Edgware Road tube station, with a Labour councillor and PR exec dad and a librarian mum, alongside her sister, Zoe. ‘The road has six lanes of traffic and is one of the most polluted in Britain,’ she says now, showing me a video, as proof, on her phone. ‘I loved it. We were at the epicentre of everything. I’d be a very different person were it not for growing up there.’ She and Zoe spent their early days walking to Oxford Street and London Zoo, and hanging out in Hyde Park, because their flat didn’t have a garden. They have ‘always been very close. We’re only a year apart in age and we used to live together’.

As a child, Dimoldenberg was obsessed with pop culture, and would tear pages out of high-end fashion magazines and add her own ‘scathing comments’ to scrapbooks. She would read her grandmother’s Vanity Fair subscription, and was inspired by films like The Devil Wears Prada to pursue fashion journalism at Central Saint Martins. Though she ‘learned so much while I was there’, Dimoldenberg didn’t enjoy her final year of university because she felt like her tutors didn’t understand what she was creating. ‘I was focusing on video [journalism], and they wanted me to make a print magazine,’ she shares, taking a sip of Diet Coke. ‘It was back before content became what it is now. But it’s what I knew I should be doing.’

Top and skirt, both Anna Quan at Revolve. Bangles, all Tiffany & Co

The bright spark

Before she even got to university, Dimoldenberg had concocted the idea for Chicken Shop Date, which originally started as a column in her youth-club magazine. ‘I thought there was a gap in the market for something a bit silly,’ she says with conviction, eyeing up the deep-fried complimentary olives the restaurant has sent over. ‘I don’t think I like olives. We’re a family of fussy eaters,’ she admits. Sure enough, after half a bite, the olive is returned to the bowl. ‘Normally they bring over chicken, like, “Hello, this is from the chef!” And I’ll be already full, trying to eat it.’

Much like the later iteration, each column entry was a Q&A with an up-and-coming rapper or grime artist, which took place in (you guessed it) a chicken shop, and involved Dimoldenberg asking off-the-wall questions. ‘At the time, there wasn’t anything that gave people the opportunity to show their personalities in a different way. It had good feedback from my peers, which motivated me to push on.’

Eventually, Dimoldenberg made the transition to video, uploading her first interview with Ghetts to YouTube in March 2014, aged 20. While the production values are a far cry from the Chicken Shop Date we know now, Dimoldenberg’s persona is much the same, adopting an awkward and aloof yet highly flirtatious approach to her guest. ‘It’s always been an exaggerated version of me,’ she shares. ‘But recently, I’ve been evolving the character because I’ve been evolving as a woman. It’s been 10 years [since the show started]. In the earlier episodes, I’m sarcastic, dry and deadpan. Now I drive a lot of the conversation. I’m more confident and warm.’

Jacket and skirt, both Jacquemus at Selfridges. Earrings, Pearl Octopuss.y. Shoes, Le Silla

The set-up allows her to delve into a celebrity’s life in a more confronting way than a traditional interview format, while the staccato editing style lends itself to Dimoldenberg’s comedic timing. With over 100 episodes to date, the YouTube channel has 2.85 million subscribers and more than 668m views. Ask any fan of the show what their favourite episode is, and they’ll likely have a different answer – but certain dates have become part of the franchise’s lore. ‘Jack Harlow was an amazing moment because up until then, I hadn’t had many Americans on, and people didn’t know much about his personality. They didn’t know he was so charming and funny. And he was flirting with me… It was the perfect date.’ While it’s true that much of her on-screen identity is similar to being face to face with Dimoldenberg, there’s a quiet confidence that underpins her personality in real life. Humorous and fun, yes, but also self-assured and assertive.

She’s aware, for example, that Chicken Shop Date is now a target for any in-the- know talent’s press team, and that she holds the cards when it comes to logistics. ‘We used to miss out on people because they wouldn’t want to leave their hotels and come to chicken shops. But now, Chicken Shop Date is so important in terms of the press tour, that people come to us. It’s been that way for the past two years.’ Is that how they managed to get Billie Eilish to Harlesden? ‘[It was] easy! She’s a big fan of the show, and I’m a massive fan of her, so I’m really happy we could make it work. We also filmed with Jennifer Lawrence in Edgware Road, literally one road away from where I grew up, which was amazing.’

The show has expanded its talent pool since inception, moving away from solely UK musicians, to allow for the likes of Lawrence, as well as Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Cher and Louis Theroux. But Dimoldenberg is still picky with her guests. ‘Talent booking is the thing that really stresses me out,’ she says, as the remaining olives are removed from our table. ‘I want to get people that I’m a fan of, and who make sense within the Chicken Shop Date world. We turn people down all the time. I can’t name anyone, because they might become relevant again,’ Dimoldenberg says, a giggle escaping from her mouth. ‘It’s not because they’re not incredible people. But I don’t want to say yes to everyone. Just because you’re an A-list actor, it doesn’t mean you have to come on Chicken Shop Date.’

Dating IRL

While the show hasn’t led to any off-screen dates (‘I had to think about that, but no’), there is one episode that practically broke the internet due to its palpable chemistry. ‘I thought you would ask about this,’ Dimoldenberg says, giving her famous side smile when I bring up Andrew Garfield. For the uninitiated, the pair first interacted on a red carpet in 2022, when the actor told Dimoldenberg he thought she was ‘great’. Over a year later at the Golden Globes, fans blushed while dissecting their 137-second interaction, thanks to its overtly playful atmosphere.

Dress, Pierre Cardin. Earrings, Crystal Haze

Finally, last October, Dimoldenberg shared an 11-minute Chicken Shop Date (a long episode, by the show’s standards) with Garfield, which has since had more than 10m views, only furthering the belief that the pair should be together in real life. And it’s true: I watched the episode through slitted fingers, feeling like a child who was prying into a (very successful) first date. ‘When I was watching it back, it did make me *squeal*. I’m so happy to have made something that’s affected people in that way,’ Dimoldenberg reflects now. ‘To see videos of people renting out their office meeting rooms to watch the episode – it was one of the best things I’ve ever been a part of. I’m really proud of it.’ As for whether there’s anything genuinely going on between them? ‘We… we, um…’ Dimoldenberg stutters, for the first time since sitting down. ‘We’re friendly. It’s been great to speak to him about how well the episode has done. He’s so lovely. As I said in the episode, I friend-zoned him…’

The actor aside, Dimoldenberg is not against dating someone famous. ‘I would. I’ve been trying for 10 years! I love dating. If you meet someone and you fancy them, what’s more fun than that? It makes you feel alive. I’d definitely like to meet someone, but I enjoy being single at the same time. There’s a very small pool of men that would be suitable,’ she giggles again, between bites of the dover sole and leek gnocchi that we’re sharing. ‘Dating is a lot of highs and lows. But honestly, I’m happy nearly all of the time. When you’re in a relationship, you’re compromising and tethered to someone else’s emotions. I find being single very freeing.’

Dress, Rowen Rose at Koibird. Earrings, Pearl Octopuss.y. Heels, Le Silla

Finding fame

On the way to our lunch, Dimoldenberg had to ask for directions, and the woman who she spoke to recognised her immediately. It’s a regular occurrence, to the extent that people approach – or shout ‘chicken’ at – her every time she leaves her flat. While Dimoldenberg assures me that people almost always have nice things to say, it can still feel overwhelming at times. ‘It’s amazing to know my work resonates with people, but you just never know what they’re going to say. Often when people can’t place me, we have to do this awkward thing of me telling them who I am. It can be a lot sometimes.’

She’s had the same group of friends since she was 11, and took them on holiday at the start of the year (‘I rented a house for 24 of us’). And to them, she’s just Amelia. But a recent conversation with one of them opened her eyes to the abnormality of her situation: to be famous, but living a relatively normal day-to-day life. ‘I don’t talk about it that much with my friends,’ she admits. ‘[Fame] just happened. But [my friend] was like, “Not everyone could withstand that.” I do feel resilient to it. It’s intimidating when people you don’t know are shouting at you across the street, but I’ve normalised that as my life now. Maybe it’s why I never fully relax walking around London – because people are whispering about me.’ Dimoldenberg lives alone and still gets public transport, while her weekends usually involve ‘the cinema, the pub and eating out at a restaurant’.

Jacket; skirt; shoes, all Gucci

That said, the line between Dimoldenberg being an outsider looking in, and a full-blown celebrity in her own right, has certainly started to blur. She was photographed with Paul Mescal at Glastonbury last year, and the likes of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley engage with her Instagram posts. ‘I’m friendly with these people, but I’m not going round to their houses,’ Dimoldenberg insists. ‘I consider myself a journalist, and once you start getting that close to the people you’re interviewing, it changes the way you can approach the interview. People want to hang out with me because I’m a fun time and I like to party, but I’m not interested in pursuing friendships with celebrities.’

Still, she classes Maya Jama and Daisy Edgar-Jones as close mates (‘sometimes you find people you click with’) and is honest about the comfort that comes from people knowing – and respecting – her show. ‘I’m glad that I have my actual friends, but it’s really nice, especially in Hollywood, to make something that people love. [Chicken Shop Date] is a great conversation starter.’ And yet, LA doesn’t feel like home. ‘Every time I’ve been in those situations, I’ve been glad to leave. Because it’s not real. I feel confident [being there], but after a while I no longer feel comfortable. It’s like being in the television.’

Life beyond the chicken shop

While Dimoldenberg has been synonymous with Chicken Shop Date for more than a decade, her red carpet reporting has recently gained traction. Her first official posting was back in 2017 at the Mobo Awards, with bookings at the Brit Awards, Golden Globes and Barbie premiere in the years that followed. And, of course, the Academy Awards, which she has now been part of twice. The presenter does massive amounts of prep before the events, writing hundreds of questions and ensuring she’s ready for whoever is secured on the carpet. ‘I want my interviews to stand out from other people’s,’ Dimoldenberg says. ‘I don’t want to ask, “What are you wearing?” In everything that I do, I try to not be generic.’ This ethos has led to many brilliant moments – but some stressful ones, too. Dimoldenberg once asked an actor what their thoughts on incest were, in relation to their show, and the person’s publicist pulled the interview. ‘That’s the only time that something like that has happened,’ she says now. ‘But we’ve had technical difficulties. At the Golden Globes, we lost the footage for the Andrew Garfield interview. I went to bed crying my eyes out, thinking, “This is the worst thing that’s ever happened” and woke up to [messages saying], “We found it!”’ She heaves for dramatic effect. Thankfully, neither incident proved fatal. ‘I’ve been so happy with the reaction [to my red carpet interviews] – I really wanted something other than Chicken Shop Date to show that I could do more.’

Both projects are housed under Dimoldenberg’s production company, Dimz Inc, which she launched back in 2018 as a way to tie all of her work – in front of and behind the camera – together. Other shows include Fake News and Amelia’s Cooking Show, a YouTube format where she and a celebrity guest prepare a meal together. ‘It’s really underrated,’ she says of the series, which was quietly retired in 2022. ‘It’s some of my favourite work I’ve done [because it] allowed me to flex my comedic flair in a different way. But it was such a nightmare to make and was so expensive to fund.’

Dimoldenberg also works with brands in a more traditional sense: she’s an ambassador for Bumble and Levi’s, but is careful not to partner with anyone that doesn’t feel authentic. ‘I turn stuff down all the time,’ she says matter-of-factly, before joking, ‘but then sometimes I’m like, “I could have a really massive house!” I don’t have an issue with turning down large sums of money. If it’s not the right thing for me, I won’t do it.’

As our plates are cleared away, conversation turns to future plans. As well as dream red carpet jobs (‘I’d love to do the Met Gala’) and a hit-list of superstars for Chicken Shop Date (‘Timothée Chalamet, Kendrick Lamar [and] Adele would be amazing’), Dimoldenberg plans to launch Dimz Inc Academy, to go alongside an in-person exhibition. ‘We’re planning a physical event where people can come and be inspired to create their own ideas,’ she says with enthusiasm. ‘Chicken Shop Date started in a youth club, and it has been an ambition of mine to create something for young people from all backgrounds, where they can gain the tools and knowledge that will inform them in creative careers.’

Dress, Patou

It’s an initiative close to her heart. Chicken Shop Date has faced some criticism over the years: that Dimoldenberg, a middle-class white woman, is benefiting from a space that isn’t traditionally hers to claim, by holding her interviews in fast-food restaurants. She has spoken at length about her desire to level the playing field, and Dimz Inc Academy’s aim is to provide young people with resources and a network to get started in broadcasting. ‘We should always be having conversations that aren’t just in echo chambers. It’s so important to have a media landscape that has different perspectives from all walks of life. I personally benefited from having a space where I was able to express myself, and it’s always been a goal to create that for other people.’

Beyond that, Dimoldenberg has her heart set on a plethora of things: she’s working on a romcom, has written a script for a comedy/drama and wants to make the transition into TV and movies. As for the future of Chicken Shop Date? ‘I’m not going to do it forever. But I need to fall in love first.’

Photographer @ryansaradjola, Fashion @maddyalford, Art Director @alexhambis, Editor in Chief @claire_hodge, Make up @sarahillmakeup, Hair @jayb.hair, Manicure @imarninails, Interview @dbaxterwright, Entertainment Editor @christobelhastings Fashion Assistant @courtsambers, Photo Assistant @Jemrigby, Producer Beverley Croucher.