Meeting someone for the first time can be very intimidating. You know what you want to say, you have jokes prepared and interesting stories about yourself, but when you meet your date all of your planning goes out of the window and you either clam up or can't stop talking.

First date nerves are common and they have affected all of us at one point or another in our lives. It can be difficult if you're meeting someone that you've met through online dating, as you'll have talked via email and possibly on the phone for some time beforehand, so you may feel you don't have anything left to say.

Here are some tips for breaking the ice on a first date:

The first thing you should do is compliment your date on what they are wearing, how they have done their hair, makeup or what they are wearing. This puts them at ease and lets them know that you're interested and their efforts haven't gone unnoticed.

If you find it hard to compliment, you could always fish for one by mentioning how you were unsure about what you're wearing, or something about yourself. This gives your date the opportunity to pay you a compliment without feeling awkward themselves.

Breaking the ice can be tricky, and you may feel strange talking about yourself, so don't - let them talk. Ask them about their day and genuinely show interest in what they are saying.

Finally, you could ask them about their favourite experience based on the nature of your first date. If you're going to the cinema, ask them about their favourite film. If you're going to a restaurant, ask them about their favourite dish. This will prompt conversation and possibly even a healthy debate.