First Dates star Fred Sirieix fell in love with England after snogging 10 girls in 15 days

Fred Sirieix has revealed his love affair with Britain began at 13 when he had more luck with girls on this side of the Channel.

The French star, who is a regular on British TV screens, recalled his first visit to the UK on a school exchange trip. And he admitted he was such a hit during the 15-day sojourn that he managed to kiss 10 girls.

Fred, 52, said: “I’ve always felt welcome here. I’ve loved it since the very first day. I think people here like the French because we’re so completely opposite. Brits are introvert, self-deprecating… they are very shy. They don’t like to embarrass themselves or others so they’re very careful with what they say. The French don’t care. They say it as it is.”

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Fred – whose fourth book, Seriously British, was published this week – said of his exchange trip to Stratford-upon-Avon: “I was 14 or 13… I was there 15 days and kissed 10 girls. In France, I couldn’t kiss as many girls as that. So suddenly it was like, ‘Wow, this is like paradise!’ One girl I kissed, her name was Belinda. When I came home, my parents had bought me a guinea pig… I called it Belinda.”

Fred, who is helping French brand Lu launch its Le Petit Cookie in the UK, shot to fame in 2013 as maitre d’ of Channel 4 ’s First Dates restaurant.

He has since appeared alongside pals Gordon Ramsay and Gino D’Acampo in Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip and jetted to Australia last year for I’m A Celeb. But Fred says he would love to try his hand at acting – and play 007.

He said: “A French James Bond… that would be the most controversial thing ever. I would do it.”

• Fred’s book, Seriously British: A Frenchman’s Love Letter to Britain, is out now

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