First Dates star Fred Sirieix has issued some stern words of warning to singletons looking for love in the time of coronavirus.
As the maître d'hôtel on the match-making Channel 4 show, Fred has witnessed the beginnings- and swift ends - to many relationships over the years.
Speaking from his home in Peckham, a newly engaged Fred said he could understand the rise in people hoping to couple up amid the nationwide lockdown and enjoying 'virtual dates' with strangers over the internet.
But he gave some advice to those currently feeling alone and warned it was easy to fall for the wrong person in the current climate.
"I can see why it’s happening, people get lonely. But in French we would call it vivre sa vie par procuration, living your life by proxy," Fred explained in an interview with The Times.
"When you are only seeing someone on Skype and Zoom it’s very easy to fantasise about the other person and also to fantasise about who you want to be, compared to who you actually are. People will get desperate and go to live this false life, inventing a relationship that exists only for the purpose of making you feel less lonely, and this is where the danger lies.
“These online relationships might give you the psychological support you need, but it takes time to get to know somebody and physical proximity is very important — you cannot really experience a person fully until you are close to them."
48-year-old Fred also opened up about life in lockdown with his love - known affectionately as 'fruitcake' - after he popped the question last month.
Fred said it had been 'love at first sight' and the couple are using their time together at home to plan their wedding.
There is talk of a beach wedding in Jamaica with good friend Gino D’Acampo, fellow star of ITV’s Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip, organising the stag do and sorting the food on the day.
This is said to be Fred's first serious relationship since his divorce in 2016.
He was previously with wife Alex for 12 years and they share two children Andrea, 15, and Lucien, 10.
