How to date someone you have nothing in common with
In this Apple News feature, dating expert Hayley Bystram, founder of Bowes-Lyon Partnership, explains why successful relationships are about much more than hobbies in common. She argues that modern apps have made dating increasingly superficial, with algorithms over-emphasising shared interests instead of the real foundations of long-term compatibility: values, morals and future aspirations.
Hayley warns that online conversations often stall at “digital pen-pal” stage, making it harder to build trust or emotional intimacy. By contrast, a professional matchmaking agency such as Bowes-Lyon Partnership takes time to understand each client in depth and introduce them in a more intentional, personal way, creating the right conditions for genuine chemistry. She notes a sharp rise in younger members joining the agency after disappointing experiences on dating apps.
Throughout the piece, Hayley encourages readers to be more open-minded: to look beyond shared hobbies, to handle political and cultural differences with curiosity and respect, to recognise the potential in long-distance and age-gap relationships, and to focus on compatibility where it really counts. Bowes-Lyon’s role is to balance that open-mindedness with thoughtful matching so that relationships have the strongest chance of long-term success.
