First Dates' Fred Sirieix in blunt four-word response to Gino D'Acampo scandal
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Fred Sirieix, known for his role as the charming maître d' on Channel 4's 'First Dates', has shared his thoughts on the delicate balance between humour and causing offence.
In light of recent allegations against 'This Morning' chef Gino D'Acampo, with whom Fred has appeared on ITV, the 53 year old offered his perspective during an open discussion with The Times.
Fred, who has previously joined forces with Gino and Gordon Ramsay for the ITV series 'Road Trip', reflected on a flirtatious comment he made during his stint on the BBC's 'Who Do You Think You Are?'
His remarks follow accusations that Gino engaged in "unacceptable" sexualised and aggressive behaviour on set, which Gino vehemently denies.
Discussing the need to "reset a little bit", Fred recalled his appearance on the BBC show where he began by serenading a woman at a restaurant with his usual smooth charm, reports the Mirror.
He recounted how he told the lady: "I was singing Pretty Woman in my head when you were walking in with all your froufrou and everything."
Reflecting on the moment, which the woman took in good spirits, Fred considered: "I'm 53; I want to carry on singing Pretty Woman.
"And also I may do a bad joke one day too, you know what I mean?". Without directly referencing Gino's situation, Fred highlighted the distinction: "But hold on: there's a big difference between a bad joke that somebody doesn't appreciate and saying something rude, inappropriate and quite frankly unacceptable."
Fred Sirieix has urged for a change in societal attitudes, ardently remarking: "I think we've got to reset a little bit. It's gone too far. I've got to say, I love men. Men are fantastic. They are!".
The charming 'First Dates' host delved into the rising popularity of Reform UK and its leader Nigel Farage, alongside his perspective on immigration, offering a stark contrast to Labour's approach, says Gloucestershire Live.
When asked about potentially relocating from Britain should Farage clinch the PM role in 2028, Fred was undecided but highlighted ties to both the UK and France: "He could be, but we're not there yet. Look, my children are here. I live here and I love this country."
Addressing the current turbulent times, Fred critiqued: "All countries have these ups and downs and we are currently at the bottom of a wave. Things are not going very well, there is no clear sense of direction and the politicians don't know what they're doing."
He compared this with the situation in France, commenting on the political extremes there: "But in France it's no better. When Macron got elected there, 25 per cent were voting extreme left and 25 per cent voting extreme right."
Over the span of almost three decades, Fred has won over the nation with his television appearances, notably his cherished role on 'First Dates', solidifying his status as a British icon. His most recent endeavour involves tracing his roots on BBC's 'Who Do You Think You Are?'
In this evening's poignant episode, Fred journeys back to France to investigate his ancestry, where he discovers the wartime love story of his maternal grandparents and addresses a longstanding family myth.
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