First Dates' Fred Sirieix speaks out on 'bad joke' after Gino D'Acampo scandal

Daily Record

27-05-2025

Fred Sirieix has weighed in on the ongoing debate around humour and offence, in the wake of allegations against his ITV co-star Gino D'Acampo.
Fred Sirieix, the beloved maître d' from Channel 4' s 'First Dates', has voiced his thoughts on navigating between humour and offence in light of recent claims against This Morning chef Gino D'Acampo. At 53, Fred delved into the subject during an open discussion with The Times.
Known for his appearances with Gino on ITV shows including 'Road Trip', Fred considered the impact of light-hearted remarks, referring to a flirty comment he made on BBC's 'Who Do You Think You Are?' amid scrutiny that Gino faced over allegations of "unacceptable" conduct — which he vehemently denies.
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Discussing the balance needed in interactions, Fred expressed the opinion that society may need to "reset a little bit". He recounted his experience on the BBC programme where he playfully serenaded a woman at a restaurant.
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He recalled how he told her: "I was singing Pretty Woman in my head when you were walking in with all your froufrou and everything."
Reflecting on turning 53 and wanting to continue these moments of charm, Fred said: "I'm 53; I want to carry on singing Pretty Woman", reports the Mirror.
He pondered the consequences of potentially telling a poor joke, stating, "And also I may do a bad joke one day too, you know what I mean?"
While not directly referencing Gino's situation, Fred emphasised that there is a stark contrast between an ill-received joke and utterances that are: "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 has urged for society to reconsider its course, passionately pronouncing: "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!".
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The First Dates host didn't hold back on his views regarding Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, and his approach to immigration, markedly different from that of the Labour party, as highlighted by Gloucestershire Live.
When questioned about the possibility of leaving the UK should Farage become prime minister in 2028, Fred remained elusive, pointing out he would decide when necessary but noting the complexities back in France, his native country: "He could be, but we're not there yet. Look, my children are here. I live here and I love this country."
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In his candid critique of the current political landscape, Fred observed: "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."
Further contemplating the political climate in France, he remarked: "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."
Having won over the nation for nearly three decades with his television roles, including his cherished part in 'First Dates', Fred is quickly becoming a British icon.
His latest endeavour takes him on a journey through his ancestry on BBC's 'Who Do You Think You Are?'.
In tonight's moving episode, Fred returns to France to delve into his heritage, where he discovers the wartime romance of his maternal grandparents and confronts a long-standing family legend.