Image Credit:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-k2A03BTQ4&t=570s

It would be wrong to dismiss Amelia Dimoldenburg as another ditzy internet wannabe, maximising her moment in the sun before interest fades into the next incarnation. Chicken Shop Dates has just celebrated 10 years and it shows no sign of abating.

So how did this girl from Edgware go from Youth Club magazine contributor, to a doyen of the red carpet? It’s important to understand that Amelia’s USP – and a point she is particularly proud of – is that she has not taken the dollar and retains complete control over all aspects of her brand. In keeping with this philosophy, in recognition of 10 Years of Chicken Shop, she has released a Youtube Q&A session for her subscribers, answering questions – not from some glossy celeb – but her dedicated fans. 

We find out more about how it all began, as a column in a youth magazine, looking for a cool way to interview artists and as she had never been on a date before, thought she’d kill two birds with one stone. Someone suggested, to make it funny, going somewhere you’d never go on a date and voila… that’s how the Chicken Shops enter the legend. After 2 years, she decided to start filming episodes and thought the best place for easy access was YouTube. Using her contacts and friends, she found someone to film and through another contact, managed to persuade the Grime artist, MC Ghetts, to be her first guest. She continued to pull in favours to keep the show going, until she was finally able to monetise via YouTube and employed a small but professional team. What she still loves most, is having complete creative control over guests, length of episodes, the crew and selecting the shorts. She particularly likes the fact that, as she’s not answerable to anyone or tied to a schedule, she releases an episode only when she’s found the perfect date. She’d also like to keep championing artists who have yet to make it big. 

When I first came across Amelia on YouTube, I presumed she was already a seasoned comedian. Her awkward, deadpan humour that we Brits just love, coupled with her comic timing, had me googling to find other shows she had been in. And as we now know – none. Although I did discover she has a BA in Fashion Communications from the prestigious Central St Martins which is no mean feat. 

When asked if her awkwardness comes naturally, she agrees. She sees her Chicken Shop persona as a character and an exaggeration of herself. Deadpan and sarcastic responses were honed at school to fend off boys which, she was pleased to confirm, worked.

Part of The Chicken Shop Date identity is also the editing. As if an extension of her persona, awkward pauses popping up in between takes, have been turned into an art form, punctuated by clips of ‘Bossman’, the fryer or bits of chicken. She explains that this was a happy accident when a member of the camera crew suggested a B roll to use in the edit. 

Filming hasn’t always run smoothly and not just in the early days, she confesses that her episode with KSI had to be shot twice as the then cameraman forgot to press record. And interviews in the dark, the only time when her guests were free, have now been replaced by morning shoots as her success has meant that they close the shop – but Chicken nuggets as brunch…?

This little YouTube channel punches way above its weight in terms of guests as word spread and the guest list progressed from Grime artists to A-list music and Hollywood celebs. It’s almost as though the celebrities love to be skewered by Amelie, rather than fawned over in other chat show formats. They’re also able to fire back as good as she gives, without fear of being cancelled. It’s particularly interesting to see how the Americans lap this up but I suppose Ricky Gervais did lead the way in this form of irreverence. She lists amongst her favourite guests, Jack Harlow, who when asked by Amelia – what was his type, replied, ‘dark hair…’ awks. Louis Theroux, her father from a parallel universe and one of her heroes, during this deadpan fest, she had him rapping ‘jiggle…jiggle…’ that deservedly went viral. Undoubtedly, the older guests are nudged by their agents or kids towards a platform that can only add to their credibility – Ben Stiller, gamely took a roasting. In another nod to the priority she places on her YouTube community, she always looks at their suggestions for a date, to check out anyone she might find compatible. 

Remembering this is a dating show, she hasn’t shied away from female guests and although she was nervous before her first female guest Maya Jama, she was on fine, flirty form for Billy Eilish (though equally for her brother Finn). She also enjoyed her episode with Daniel Kaluuya who proved a perfect sparring partner and what can you say about Cher, except… well it’s Cher.

Image Credit: https://youtu.be/TfslMi7_Cbc?si=z7OV8yGag1OeSun5

The red carpet came a-calling with her first gig at The MOBO’s in 2017 – a natural progression as her confident, easy and unique delivery had the stars queuing up with squeals of ‘OMG – it’s the Chicken Shop girl!’ Always a fashionista, we now see her draped in Versace or Gucci at The Golden Globes and The Oscars. And if we’re talking flirty, then rumours abound about her and Andrew Garfield as he proved a bashful wreck when she interviewed him at The Globes and likewise in the Chicken Shop.

Image Credit: https://youtu.be/E6O0wq6GNn8

Documentaries, cameos and product endorsements followed, but what next for the Chicken Shop Date girl? If she didn’t have enough strings to her bow as content creator, producer, interviewer, trend setter, and oft described as ‘a comedian’- we find that she also has plans to spread the love. This Summer, she held a Summer School in London for young people who wanted to get into the creative industries but didn’t have the access to what they needed. Having herself benefitted from her Youth Club publication and the support and resources she received, she says ‘it’s something I’m super proud of and passionate about.’ She intends to use her platform to further her cause.

In addition, Amelia has organised a pop up exhibition in London this month, to celebrate the 10 year anniversary and the drive behind this, she says, is ‘to inspire the next generation of creatives.’ 

It is refreshing  to find a female role model, who has such singularity in her purpose. Despite her signature awkwardness, she has ploughed her way through the expectations of corporate control, to show how to remain relevant while independent. 

When you hear Amelia eloquently sum up why she is supporting the next generation, ‘if you give young people the tools they need, they’ll become successful adults,’ then you wonder if it’s time for our vacuous politicians to step aside for someone who knows how it’s done. Next move Amelia…Westminster?

Chicken Shop Date Exhibition 
September 26th & 27th, 2025
Protein Studios, Shoreditch, London