* 71% surge in people seeking an affair expected on Friday 17th July – making it the biggest cheating day of the summer
* School holidays create the perfect opportunity, with parents using gym trips, shopping and “working late” as their favourite alibis
* More than a third admit they’ll use a solo hobby as cover to meet an affair partner on Friday
* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site.
The Last Window Before the Chaos
As schools close their gates for the summer holidays this week, Britain’s cheaters are preparing for what has become the biggest affair day of the year.
New data from IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest dating site for married people, predicts a 71% surge in people actively seeking an affair tomorrow – an annual phenomenon dubbed ‘Frisky Friday’.
The annual spike comes as millions of families prepare for six weeks of disrupted routines, childcare and holidays together. For those already leading double lives, it’s seen as the last opportunity to meet an affair partner before family life takes over.
Britain’s Cheaters Have Their Alibis Ready
And Britain’s cheating class already has its excuses lined up.
A poll of 1,900 IllicitEncounters members found the most popular alibi is a solo hobby, with 38% planning to blame a trip to the gym, a round of golf or a shopping trip if questioned about their whereabouts.
Almost a third (29%) say they’ll tell their partner they’re working late or dealing with work commitments, while 17% plan to disappear under the guise of running errands or attending appointments.
Just over one in ten (11%) will simply claim they’re meeting friends, while the remaining 5% admit they’ll come up with another excuse entirely.
Emma*, 39, says she’s already planned her Frisky Friday. “Once the kids are off, every minute is accounted for,” she said. “My partner works from home, the house is full, and there’s no space to breathe. If I’m going to see the man I’ve been talking to, it has to be before the chaos starts. I’ll tell my husband I’m going to the gym — he never questions it.”
Expert Comment from Jessica Leoni
Jessica Leoni, spokesperson for IllicitEncounters.com, said: “Frisky Friday has become something of a phenomenon because it arrives at exactly the point where opportunity is about to disappear.
“Once the school holidays begin, couples spend far more time together, children are around constantly and routines completely change. For many people having affairs, this Friday represents the last realistic chance to meet someone before September.
“It’s remarkable how organised people become. The gym membership suddenly gets plenty of use, shopping trips take much longer than usual and work somehow becomes incredibly busy.”
She added: “Every summer we see exactly the same pattern. Activity spikes dramatically just before schools break up and then falls away during the holidays, before climbing again when normal life resumes.”
* Name has been changed to protect identity
Results
Excuses people will be using on Frisky Friday to meet their lovers:
38% will use their ‘solo hobbies’ (e.g. gym, golf, shopping)
29% will rely on ‘working late’/’work commitments’.
17% will be ‘running errands’ or have scheduled appointments
11% will be meeting up with friends
5% – Other
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