Always an upbeat guy, Fred Sirieix is on cloud nine now.
The very day TV Mag went to print, the 53-year-old was tying the knot with his wife Fruitcake in Jamaica, where they were also spending their honeymoon.
The newly married First Dates star said daters on his Channel 4 hit aren’t looking to be famous[/caption]
Admitting that he’s conscious of the fact that Fruitcake (inset bottom, with Fred) isn’t in the public eye – and he has never revealed her real name – the First Dates star was keen to keep the wedding details under wraps, but smiled as he recalled their own first date.
“We met in the street,” remembers Fred. “She was walking towards me, and I looked at her and she looked at me and she was smiling. She had a beautiful smile.
“There was this enthusiasm and energy to her, and I loved her eyes – they were shining. There was lots of life in there. So we started to talk, it was very quick; I can’t even remember what I said, but we had a date the very same night in Peckham [south-east London].”
‘Fruitcake’ is Fred’s nickname for his other half, and when TV Mag asks why he calls her that, he simply says: “I can’t tell you because it’s only between her and me. It’s nice to have something private.”
Fred’s a traditionally private man, but has found his profile ever-growing since he made his TV debut as the maître d’ in the First Dates restaurant back in 2013. He’s been playing matchmaker for 23 series now.
“I’m not here to diss Love Island or anything like that, but people don’t come on First Dates because they want to make money or be famous, they come to find love, and that is pure; you don’t have to ‘couple up’ to win the prize,” he smiles.
“There is no prize, no money and no glory besides finding love. They have five minutes on television and can hopefully come back home with a person that they want to be with for the rest of their lives. It’s beautiful. I’m a romantic at heart.”
It’s such a simple premise – viewers watch strangers having a conversation over dinner – but Fred knows exactly why First Dates continues to be so captivating.
“We all have baggage, we’ve all had relationships, and there’s a lot of pain that comes with love, so people come and sometimes their stories will be shocking to us, or they’ll be inspiring, exciting, or sometimes scary,” explains Fred, who was general manager for restaurant Galvin at Windows in London’s Park Lane Hilton when he signed up for First Dates.
“Some people have known incredible hardship – you know, their partner or children could die on them, they could come from war zones. I had a very happy childhood, and I think I’ve been quite shielded from a lot of the pain some people have, but suddenly you are there and you realise what people are going through.
“This is why I think people like First Dates so much. We can relate to these people, even though maybe their story is something that is beyond our imagination, because we can’t imagine how they went through this and still find that desire to find love again, to be vulnerable again, when they have been hurt, betrayed or worse. This is a real show, real people, and we move heaven and earth to find them a match.”
And father-of-two Fred is always willing to share his own experiences of romance to dish out advice to the singletons.
“Relationships are never, ever done,” he says. “You have to work at them. Fruitcake and I have date nights. We try to go out once a week, to do something special. This is the day we reserve just for us.”
And how about his relationship with former co-star Gino D’Acampo? While Fred was speaking to us before the scandal broke about Gino’s alleged behaviour, when TV Mag asked if he’d be doing any more shows with either or both of Gino and Gordon Ramsay (inset above), he replied: “We might, we’ll see – it depends on time. They are both very busy. We’ll see what happens.”
Right now, of course, any such reunion on telly seems unlikely, but it sounds like Fred will have plenty of projects to keep him busy, and he admits that his passion for fine dining could develop into something more substantial – namely his own restaurant.
First Dates cast
Fred Sirieix
Fred is the charismatic French maître d’hôtel who hosts First Dates. He has a rich background in the hospitality industry, with over 30 years of experience. Fred has been part of the reality show since 2015 and his charming personality helps to put punters going on the dates at ease.
Merlin Griffiths
Merlin is the bartender on First Dates. His friendly presence and expert mixology skills contribute to the show’s warm atmosphere. Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Merlin was in the bar industry for over two decades before offering his services to the Channel 4 series. Outside of First Dates, Merlin also owns and operates his own bar.
Cici Coleman
Cici is the show’s outgoing waitress. She trained as an actress before joining the cast of First Dates, which lends theatrical flair to her role. Her ability to make guests feel at ease, coupled with her genuine interest in their stories, has endeared her to viewers. Outside of her work on First Dates, Cici continues to pursue her passion for acting and fitness, often sharing insights into her life and career on social media.
“I’ve been looking at things, to be honest with you,” he confesses.
“You’ve got to be sure of the location, because at the moment, the climate is very difficult. Prices have gone up. It’s really tough and you cannot just rely on your name. It’s a cutthroat business.”
And given his love of fine wine, could we see him follow in the likes of Gary Barlow, Graham Norton and his pal Gordon’s footsteps and release his own brand?
“Yeah, of course,” he enthuses. “But you’ve got to make sure of the quality to maintain your reputation. Fruitcake, who’s never studied wine, has an incredible palate. And my son [Lucien], who’s 15, is the same. He can’t drink, really, but whenever I get a nice bottle of wine, I wet his lips a little bit. My daughter [Team GB champion diver Andrea, 20] doesn’t drink alcohol, but I’m really sold on wine. It’s one of my passions.”
Even with his love of food and drink, Fred has managed to stay in incredible shape (below), as we’ve often seen when he’s stripped off on his road trips.
“I don’t think I’ve got a choice,” Fred says. “I’ve always loved being active, so if I don’t do it, I wouldn’t feel good. I’m 53, I’ve got to be able to be as strong and flexible for as long as I can. When I was younger, it would be called sports – now I call it mobility!”
- The Sun’s TV Mag is available for free inside Saturday’s newspaper.
