British creator Amelia Dimoldenberg announced on Thursday that her viral YouTube interview series Chicken Shop Date
is ending after 12 years. The final run of episodes will feature an eclectic lineup of guests, concluding a digital cultural phenomenon that amassed over 1 billion views.
After more than a decade of awkward banter and deadpan silences across fried chicken counters, creator, writer, and host Amelia Dimoldenberg is closing the doors on her signature project. The series, which pairs celebrity interviews with the framing of a romantic date in a fast-food restaurant, will wrap up following a final few dates.
From Youth Magazine Column to Digital Phenomenon
The concept started in 2014 as a column for a youth-run magazine, growing out of interviews Dimoldenberg conducted with grime artists as a teenager for culture magazine The Cut. At the time, social media was rarely viewed by publicists or talent managers as a viable platform for promoting a celebrity’s latest album, film, or product. Dimoldenberg spent years trying to persuade industry representatives to take a chance on the format.
By 2021, the show broke into the mainstream limelight following an interview with rapper Jack Harlow. Since 2022, the series expanded its social following from 830,000 to 4.4 million, while accumulating around one billion views across its run on YouTube. Film marketing teams increasingly utilized the show as a standard stop during promotional press cycles for major releases.
The Celebrity Guest Roster and Viral Moments
Dimoldenberg’s format brought world-famous actors, musicians, and internet personalities across the table for fried chicken. Her interview list includes Billie Eilish, Cher, Central Cee, Sabrina Carpenter, internet sensation KSI, and Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo. Film marketing brought top-tier talent like Paul Mescal, Harris Dickenson, Idris Elba, and Louis Theroux into the booth.
An interview with Andrew Garfield went viral because viewers believed the pair displayed undeniable chemistry on screen. Among the final guests appearing in the concluding episodes are Paul McCartney, Zara Larsson, and Conan O’Brien. Fans have long speculated whether Dimoldenberg managed to secure rapper Drake, whom she frequently named as her dream guest, for one of the final appearances.
Amelia Dimoldenberg reflected via Variety that when she was 17, she had thought she might meet the love of her life on a date in a chicken shop, adding that since then she had spent her entire twenties sitting across from the most incredible people she had always dreamt of meeting, all of whom had charmed her, some more than others, and whom she had definitely charmed in return.
Why the Creator Decided to Move On
Just months prior to the announcement, Dimoldenberg maintained that she had no immediate plans to end the series, stating she intended to continue until she met her one true love. Yet, in an Instagram post on Thursday, she shared that the time had arrived to pivot toward new creative endeavors.
Amelia Dimoldenberg shared via Business Insider that she had never thought she would stop Chicken Shop Date, having believed it might be a part of her forever—and in some way it always would be—but she felt it was now time to move on from that adventure and onto a new one.
Tributes poured in across social media following the announcement. Radio 1 presenter and podcaster Jamie Laing labeled the host “The G.O.A.T.” while author and broadcaster Elizabeth Day noted that knowing when to stop on such a high cultural note is the quintessential power move.
Broader Shift in the Creator Economy
The conclusion of Chicken Shop Date reflects a broader maturation point within the creator economy. Internet-native interview formats—such as Sean Evans’ Hot Ones and Kareem Rahma’s Subway Takes—have successfully positioned themselves as viable alternatives to traditional late-night talk shows. As digital creators reach new phases in their careers, successful franchises often serve as launchpads into larger entertainment ecosystems.
Dimoldenberg built her own production banner, Dimz Inc., alongside a youth summer academy in London. She has also been a vocal advocate for training programs and apprenticeships helping young people enter employment.
Next Steps and Future Projects
With the talk show wrapping up, Dimoldenberg is already directing her energy toward scripted television and film development. At the Edinburgh TV Festival, she revealed she is developing a young adult drama series for the BBC that she characterized as my version of Skins.
In addition to her television work with the BBC, she is developing an upcoming romantic comedy film in partnership with Amazon MGM Studios’ Orion Pictures, while also writing and planning to star in her own rom-com project.
