Category: Press Releases

Is cheating in your DNA? Study finds you’re more likely to be unfaithful if your parents had an affair

* 62% of adulterous men and 77% of unfaithful women say that their parents had affairs in the past, suggesting cheating can run in the family.

* 71% of love rats said their mum and dad’s relationship survived infidelity, giving them the impression that adultery doesn’t have to lead to the breakdown of a marriage.

* A relationship expert has warned that a person’s upbringing can shape their perspective surrounding infidelity, with 41% of cheaters believing affairs are more acceptable because they witnessed the same behaviour from their parents.

* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site
 

Unfaithful partners are never short of excuses when it comes to why they choose to walk down the path of infidelity. But, it turns out there’s another reason for cheating they can add to the list: if their parents cheated, they’re more likely to do it too.

A recent survey by extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com involving 600 male and 600 female members, suggests that if you want to know if your partner is going to cheat on you, just take a look at their parents’ relationship.

62% of unfaithful men and 77% of cheating women surveyed said their parents had an affair in the past. 

Of those who declared they had adulterous parents, incredibly 71% said their mum and dad’s relationship survived the infidelity. So, if your parents can overcome cheating, the consequences might not be so bad, right? 

That appears to be the mindset of love rats, as a shocking 4 in 10 of those who took part in the survey said their parents’ infidelity made them feel it’s more acceptable to cheat on their own partners. 

Maria from Birmingham, who took part in the survey, said, “My dad cheated on my mum repeatedly when I was younger – but she always found a way of moving past it and forgiving him.

Seeing how my parents overcame infidelity definitely changed the way I look at cheating. We’re only human, and we all make mistakes but it’s all about how you react. When there’s children involved it’s also much easier to sweep things under the rug and to try to just act like nothing’s happened for the benefit of the family.

I suppose seeing my mum’s ability to just keep going almost gave me the green light to cheat too, because it gave me the impression that there’s no real consequences when it comes to infidelity.”

So, can cheating parents really reveal if you’re more likely to follow in their footsteps when it comes to infidelity? According to Jessica Leoni, spokesperson and relationship expert at  IllicitEncounters.com, “Growing up in an environment where being unfaithful is more common really can shape a person’s perception of fidelity and commitment, and that’s clear from these statistics.

It’s so important to recognise that our early experiences serve as a template for understanding what is considered acceptable or normal in relationships. 

If people witness infidelity within their family unit, it can absolutely contribute to the normalisation of such behaviour, potentially influencing their own attitudes towards commitment. It’s a cycle that risks repeating itself from generation to generation.”

8th January is the day people are most likely to start having an affair

* Dubbed Blue Monday for relationships, the 8th January is the day that people turn to infidelity as a result of cracks revealed during the festive period.
* Registrations on married dating site IllicitEncounters.com are forecast to be up 36% by the end of this week, forcing the company to employ extra staff to deal with the influx of new users.
* 71% of people say that getting a divorce or ending an unhappy relationship is a top priority in 2024, along with having more sex (56%).
* Survey conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site.

As the festive glitter settles and we embrace the start of 2024, it’s a time for setting goals with New Year’s resolutions – and having an affair is apparently high on the list for many people.

Today has officially been declared the moment when people are most likely to have an affair. The 8th January, dubbed Blue Monday for relationships, shares the spotlight with Divorce Day which lands on the first working Monday of the year. 

During the Christmas and New Year festivities, families are forced to spend more time together than any other period – a dangerous situation for already rocky relationships. The result: people are now considering whether the grass is greener outside of their marriage.

Extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com has revealed that registrations are forecast to be up 36% by the end of this week. In fact, there’s been such a demand that the website has reportedly had to employ more staff to deal with the uptick in new members.

To coincide with Blue Monday, the website polled 750 of people who registered within the last week, asking what their New Year’s resolutions for 2024 are, and it turns out that people aren’t just planning on eating well and exercising more this year. 

Surprisingly, the top resolution is getting a divorce or ending an unhappy relationship, with 71% declaring enough is enough. Whilst for more than half (56%) of those polled, the top priority for 2024 is to have more sex.

One member who joined the extramarital dating site this week, Juliette from Gloucester said, “This year, I’m putting ME first – the ultimate act of self-care! I’ve been with my husband for seven years, but I feel increasingly underappreciated and unhappy within our relationship. Nothing highlights that more than Christmas time, when I end up doing all the prep and he just sits on the sofa. I just feel like we’ve got to the point where we’d rather spend more time apart than together. 

So, my plan for 2024 is to grab the bull by the horns and make regaining my freedom a top priority by finally getting a divorce.”

Jessica Leoni, a spokesperson for IllicitEncounters.com and dating expert commented, “The festive period is one of the biggest annual hurdles couples have to face. With offices closed and the kids at home, the period from Christmas to New Year forces families to spend an intense amount of time together. As a result, it can shine a light on any relationship cracks, intensifying feelings of isolation or unfulfillment within a marriage.

Combine that with the fact that the start of a new year often prompts people to reflect on their lives, reassess their happiness, and contemplate change. For some, this introspection may lead to the realisation that their current relationships aren’t up to scratch.

It’s the perfect recipe for starting an affair – a spotlight on a faltering marriage + hopes for change and increased happiness = seeking new connections, new adventures and making potentially life-changing decisions. Is it any wonder divorce lawyers and extramarital dating sites are so hugely popular at this time of the year?”

Revealed: The top lie unfaithful wives are telling their husbands this Christmas

* 39% of cheating women are using Christmas shopping as an excuse to meet their lovers for a festive fling this month.

* Time-consuming and notoriously hated by men, Christmas shopping is the ideal cover-up for unfaithful wives who are meeting up with their lovers this holiday season.

* Visiting loved ones before Christmas (23%), working overtime (16%) and meeting up with friends (9%) are other festive fibs being told to unsuspecting husbands.

* Survey conducted by the UK’s leading extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com

‘Tis the season to be jolly, right? Well, it turns out that in the midst of all the holiday hoopla, some wives are spinning a web of deception around a rather unexpected festive activity – Christmas shopping.

According to a survey involving 1,000 married women conducted by extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com, instead of shopping for gifts, wives are unwrapping secret liaisons, leaving unsuspecting partners in the dark about the festive fling happening behind the scenes.

39% of the married women surveyed said they use Christmas shopping as an excuse to get out of the house for a secret rendezvous with their lover.

Visiting friends and relatives to drop off Christmas cards and gifts is the second most popular festive fib being told by unfaithful wives (23%), whilst old classics like having to work overtime (16%) and meeting up with friends (9%) are less favoured at this time of year.

One member of IllicitEncounters.com who took part in the survey and is currently using the ‘Christmas shopping’ excuse to mask her infidelity, Christina from Stockport, said “My husband absolutely hates Christmas shopping, so I’ve found it’s the perfect excuse to use around this time of the year. He would do anything to avoid having to wander around the shops looking for gifts for the kids, so ironically he puts all his faith in me when it comes to gifting.

What he doesn’t know is that I’ve actually already done all of my Christmas shopping… I’m just using the time to meet up with my lover who I’ve been seeing for the past 4 months. 

Every time I come back from a ‘shopping trip’, I’ve basically just got empty boxes in shopping bags to make it look like I’ve bought something – he never asks to take a look, and if he ever did I’d just say he can’t peek because it’s a present for him.”

Jessica Leoni, IllicitEncounters.com’s relationship expert explains why so many women are using the usually innocent act of gift-giving as a cover for their infidelity, “If you think about it, Christmas shopping really is the ultimate alibi for women if they’re playing away.

Wandering around the shops takes time, and finding the perfect gift needs careful consideration that can’t be rushed, right? With all those presents that need buying, women will no doubt need to make multiple trips to out-of-town shopping centres, travelling far and wide to find that special something.

Quite simply, there’s potential for spouses to exploit the season’s busy nature and the assumed innocence of holiday preparations. Just make sure you don’t come back empty handed…”

Results

Top lies women are telling their partners to cover up infidelity:
Christmas shopping 39%
Visiting friends and relatives out of town before Christmas 23%
Working overtime 16%
Going out with friends 9%
Going to the gym 6%
Other 7%

Today is ‘Unfaithful Friday’– the biggest day for affairs as adulterers celebrate ‘Cheat-mas’

* Friday 1st December is ‘Unfaithful Friday’, the most popular day in the winter for having an affair

* Today is the day married people are most likely to be cheated on during the winter months, dubbed by adulterers as ‘Cheat-mas’

* Extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com reported a 32% increase in activity among members in the leadup to ‘Unfaithful Friday’

* 68% of cheats have made plans to see their mistresses today, with 21% saying they’ll be spending the entire weekend away with their lovers

Ah, Christmas – the most wonderful time of the year… unless, of course, you’re cheating on your partner, in which case you’ll be celebrating ‘Cheat-mas’ instead – the most wonderful time of the year… for adulterers.

This year ‘Unfaithful Friday’ falls on the 1st December, known in the world of infidelity as the last chance for cheats to see their lovers before the chaos of Christmas begins.

Extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com reported a 32% increase in activity among members in the leadup to ‘Cheat-mas’, as they scramble to arrange meets with fellow adulterers for a final fling before returning to their monotonous marriages over the festive period.

In a survey conducted by the UK’s leading married dating site involving 1,000 male members, 68% declared they’ve made plans to meet up with their mistresses on ‘Unfaithful Friday’. 

But it’s not just a one-day celebration for some. In fact, 1 in 5 married men have said they’ve lied to their wives about what they’re up to over the next couple of days, finding an excuse to be away for the entire weekend so they can really make the most of ‘Cheat-mas’.

So, with Christmas just around the corner, what does a cheat gift his wife in the season of giving? Well, 29% of men plan on buying snazzy gadgets for their other half. Though they want to reconsider that, as a recent poll from IllicitEncounters.com found 65% of women said they busted their partner’s affair thanks to technology.

Jon, a member of the married dating site who’ll be celebrating ‘Unfaithful Friday’ this year said, “This is by far my favourite day of the year! In the lead up to Christmas I get dragged around the shops with my wife hunting for gifts for the kids, there are Christmas parties left, right and centre, there’s the school nativity… the list goes on. 

I’ll barely get a second to myself, which makes celebration ten times more exciting. It’s pure bliss – a moment for me to completely let loose with my mistress before all the stress begins.

This year I’ve actually managed to book a weekend away – I told my wife I have to meet a big client in London because it’s the only time they’re free… and she doesn’t suspect a thing.”

Sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com commented, “It’s supposedly the most wonderful time of the year, but Christmas is undoubtedly also one of the busiest and most stressful periods for couples. From attending endless festive get-togethers to the pressures of gift-buying, Christmas can be incredibly overwhelming for some.

And, with family obligations taking centre stage, it’s no surprise that people make the most of Unfaithful Friday and celebrate ‘Cheat-mas’ before the festive frenzy at home.

It’s the last hurrah before all of the chaos begins. So, if your husband’s told you he’s busy tonight or he’s off on a work trip this weekend, you might want to do some detective work to find out what he’s really up to.”
 

Results

Top gifts cheaters are buying for their wives for Christmas:
Tech – 29% 
Beauty products/make up – 21%
Jewellery – 20%
Perfume – 14%
Clothes – 9%
Homeware – 5%
Other 2%

Cheaters are happier in their marriages and having more sex with their spouses, study reveals

* 72% of married people say they’re happier in their marriage since starting an affair
* 52% of cheats say they’re having more sex with their other halves than ever before
* 38% of people believe a boost in their mood whilst having an affair has had a positive impact on their sex life at home 
* An increase in self-esteem (26%) and heightened sex drive (22%) when cheating are the other biggest factors that are leading to more action between the sheets for couples
* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site
 

More often than not, having an affair is seen in a negative light. However, new research might have you considering the pros, as it turns out playing away not only makes you happier, but you’re more likely to see an improvement in your relationship with your spouse – especially in the bedroom.

IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site, polled 1,400 married members to see what effect having an affair has had on their relationship at home. 

Shockingly, 72% of married people say they’re happier in their marriage since starting an affair, and of those, 52% said they’re actually having more sex than ever with their spouses.

When asked why they think there’s been an improvement in their sex life with their partners, 38% of love rats said they’re simply happier as a result of cheating, and it’s that mood boost that’s giving them the horn. 

26% of married people having an affair said that they’re having more sex with their husbands and wives because they’ve got more self-esteem.

22% of love rats believe the thrill of cheating has led to a heightened sex drive, saying that’s why they’re seeing sparks fly in the bedroom with their spouses.

One member who took part in the study, Colin, 37 from Exeter said, “Since starting an affair five months ago, I’ve been having more sex than ever – and not just with my lover. 

I’ve definitely noticed that I’ve become more patient with my wife, more able to let the little things that got on my nerves slide. We’re fighting less too – it’s like having this secret escape has brought over a sense of calm in my life and I’m just happier overall. 

Now, I can actually bear going home to my wife and our sex is miles better…and funnily enough, we’ve been at it more in the past five months than in the past five years. It’s a win-win in my eyes!”

Jessica Leoni, IllicitEncounters.com’s sex and relationships expert commented, “It might sound strange, but so many people find that their overall satisfaction in their primary relationships improves when having an affair. 

One thing that’s become clear is the impact that personal happiness has on your sex life, especially for those seeking fun outside of their marriage. They get this newfound surge in happiness, whether that comes from the affair itself or from the escape it provides, and that can spill over into the relationship at home. 

Happier people often approach intimacy with a more positive mindset, making them more tolerant, and in some cases, more appreciative of their partners.”

Results

Have you been happier in your existing relationship since having an affair?
Yes -72%
No – 26%
The same – 2%

Do you continue having sex with your husband/wife whilst having an affair?
Yes – 86%
No – 12%
Not sure – 2%

Would you say you have more or less sex with your other half whilst having an affair?
More – 52%
Less – 23%
The same – 25%

1 in 4 cheats have been ratted out after disclosing their secret affairs to confidants

* 77% of cheats say they’ve revealed their infidelity to someone they know, hoping to lighten their load.

* Alarmingly, 1 in 4 cheats have been outed by the person they confided in, finding the burden too much to bear.

* Best friends (34%) are the people love rats turn to when coming clean about their shenanigans, whilst talking to strangers online (22%), hairdressers/barbers (8%) and bartenders (4%) are the unlikely people cheaters trust most with their secrets.

* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site

A problem shared is a problem halved, right? Wrong – if you’re having an affair. New research has revealed that confiding in the people closest to you about your affair might not be the wisest move if you want to avoid getting caught.

The study conducted by extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com found that 77% of cheats have spilled the beans about their infidelity to someone they know.

Historical research provided by the website shows that in 2018 just 18% of people were betrayed by the person they confided in when it came to revealing their infidelity. However, a recent poll has found a significant increase in backstabbing as now 1 in 4 people get ratted out by the very people they believe they can trust the most, proving that loose lips really do sink ships.

So, who are cheaters most likely to share their darkest affair secrets with?

Best buddies are the top pick (34%), while others prefer to keep it in the family offloading on their siblings (27%).

Surprisingly, 22% of cheats have found themselves disclosing their infidelity to strangers online, with safe spaces like the Illicitencounters.com ‘Flirt Forum’ where love rats can vent, seek advice, and spill the juiciest details without fear of discovery.

If you suspect your partner’s having an affair, you might also want to consider talking to their hairdresser or barber. It turns out 8% of people have revealed details of their affair while going for a trim, making your hair appointments more like therapy sessions, whilst 4% of cheaters have poured their hearts out to bartenders.

Emily from Stoke-on-Trent, a member of IllicitEncounters who took part in the study said, “I’ve known my best friend for much longer than I’ve known my husband – I’d trust her with my life. Talking to her about my affair was one of the hardest but most liberating decisions I’ve ever made. Her support and non-judgmental approach was exactly what I needed, and there’s the extra perk of her now being my alibi when I’m meeting up with my lover.

I know it’s risky letting people know what I’m getting up to behind my husband’s back, but the weight of my secret was becoming too much to bear and I just needed to spill the beans to someone – I can’t tell you how much of a relief it was.”

Jessica Leoni, IllicitEncounters.com’s sex and relationships expert commented, “It’s fascinating to see just how many people turn to people they know when it comes to disclosing secret infidelity, highlighting the human need for emotional support and understanding during times of turmoil in a relationship. 

Close friends often serve as a safe space where individuals can seek advice, gain perspective, and find comfort when grappling with the complex emotions surrounding infidelity. In cases like this, a problem shared really is a problem halved.

Of course, there’s always a risk when it comes to confiding such an immense secret with people you know – make sure they really can be trusted to keep schtum because you could easily see this backfire.”

Results

People cheaters are most likely to confide in:
Best friends – 34%
Siblings – 27%
Strangers online – 22%
Co-workers – 16%
Parents – 11%
Hairdressers/barbers – 8%
Bartenders – 4%
Other – 2%

The cheater’s digital dilemma: 65% of women have busted their partner’s affair using tech

* New research reveals 65% of women have caught their partner cheating thanks to technology

* Lock screen phone notifications are the number one way ladies are busting their partner’s affair (24%)

* 38% of women suspicious of their partner’s shenanigans have gifted them gadgets that make it easier to discreetly keep tabs on them

* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site
 

In a world driven by technology and AI, keeping secrets under wraps has become more challenging than ever – especially for those cheating on their partners.

It turns out the pursuit of secret affairs has become a high-stakes game, with an ever-increasing chance of being exposed, and it’s all thanks to tech. 

New research by extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com found women are turning into digital detectives, with 65% saying they busted their partner’s affair by using technology.

38% of women even admitted to gifting their partners gadgets that could help them keep an eye on what they’re getting up to.

The study which involved 1,500 members of the website found that notifications on their partner’s phone were the top way of discovering their partner’s affair (24%) – email, Whatsapp and social media alerts popping up on lock screens are a big give away when it comes to exposing cheats.

Old-school methods like checking browser history (18%), call logs (13%) and emails (9%) are still trusty ways women are discovering their partners are loverats.

However, there are more novel and much more sophisticated ways people are getting caught out these days. Alexa (11%), fitness watches (8%) and Ring doorbells (5%) have also made it on the list of how cheats are being busted by their wives. 

There are even people who go as far as using AI voice cloning (2%) to discover whether partners are being unfaithful.

Jane, 38 from Newcastle, a member of IllicitEncounters, shared her story on the topic saying, “A few months ago I used an AI voice cloning programme because I was suspicious about what my husband was up to – I’d noticed he’d started getting calls quite often from a ‘Jordan’. I’ve been with my husband for nearly 10 years and I’d never seen or heard of any friends with that name, so obviously I thought something shady was going on. 

That’s when I had the idea of cloning my husband’s voice and calling this ‘Jordan’ to find out who they actually were. All I had to do was upload a clip of him talking and then I could create the conversation I wanted using AI. Anyway, I called ‘Jordan’ and it turned out this was a woman my husband was having an affair with. She had absolutely no idea it wasn’t really him she was talking to. 

I actually haven’t told my husband any of this, and now I’ve found myself having a revenge affair to get my own back. And if he finds out… that’s fine because I’ve got an ace up my sleeve if he ever wants to confront me about it.”

Fiona, 37 from Windsor, another member of the extramarital dating site who took part in the study said, “I found out my partner was cheating on me one weekend when I went to visit my mum in Cornwall, and it was all thanks to Alexa. I’d had my suspicions about what he was getting up to, so as soon as I got home I took a peek at the voice history log.

That’s when I found out he’d asked Alexa to play our ‘sexy’ playlist we’d put together – a bit weird because as far as I knew, it was something we’d only listen to when things got steamy between us. I discovered you can actually listen to Alexa recordings, and when he asked to play that specific playlist I heard a woman laugh in the background.

When I brought it up, he unsurprisingly came clean about it straightaway – I mean he couldn’t really deny it, the proof was there!”

Sex and relationships expert for IllicitEncounters.com, Jessica Leoni, commented on the study, “Technology has advanced in ways we could never have imagined over the past few years, and in some cases it’s made it super easy to catch cheaters in the act – though I have to say, it doesn’t appear to be having an effect on the number of people having affairs as the figure continues to rise.

Whether it’s old-school errors like saucy texts left on phones, or more modern slip-ups with location-tracking and AI, people need to be clever about how they’re covering their digital tracks.”

Results

Have you ever caught your partner using technology?
Yes – 65%
No – 35%
 

How have you used technology to discover your partner was cheating?
Phone notifications – 24%
Checking browser history – 18%
Call history – 13%
Alexa – 11%
Checking emails – 9%
Fitness watch – 8%
Find My Phone location tracking – 7%
Ring doorbell – 5%
AI voice cloning – 2%
Other – 3%

Frome crowned the UK’s new adultery capital as the town’s housing crisis causes an ‘avalanche’ of affairs while couples struggle with huge rent rises during the cost of living crisis – while Blackpool is declared the most faithful town

* The posh Somerset market town – recently declared the ‘best place to live in the South West’ – tops the new cheating map listing the UK’s 400 top places for extra-marital affairs

* Frome has 1,309 people having affairs – 7.32% of the town’s population

* The award will be added to Frome’s mantelpiece, having also recently been recognised as the best place to live, the most stylish town and one of the most welcoming places in the UK

* Cheating in Frome is out of control with a massive 131% rise in adultery since 2022 as rising rents leave couples looking for a cheaper alternative to divorce 

* Figures are featured in the new Infidelity Index cheating table compiled by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s leading affairs site

The cheating capital of the UK is swanky Frome in Somerset, according to a new map of the country’s top 400 infidelity hotspots.

The picturesque market town – recently declared the ‘best place to live in the South West’ – has now officially been named the area people are most likely to cheat on their partner.

Frome has 1,309 people who are having affairs, which makes up 7.32% of the town’s population – a ‘Frome-nomenal’ 131% increase on 2022’s data of just 566 affairs.

The spike in affairs has been linked to the housing crisis that was officially declared by the town last month – with couples struggling to keep up with soaring rental rates paired with the cost of living crisis, people are looking for a cheaper alternative to divorce.

The most faithful town is Blackpool with just 0.38% of the town’s population having affairs (570 cheats).

The interactive Infidelity Index allows users to search a town, city or postcode to discover how many people are having affairs in any locality.

This year’s table from IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s leading dating site for married people, shows that cheating has risen by 7% nationally since the start of the year as the cost of living crisis takes its toll on relationships. 

It is the highest annual rise in the 20 years since the dating site was founded.

Click here to find your local figure – based on data from one million postcodes – 

www.infidelityindex.co.uk
 

In second place is Weybridge with 946 cheats (5.95% of the population), followed by Wilmslow in third place with 1,484 cheats (5.77% of the population), Fulwood is fourth with 1,684 cheats (5.73% of the population) and Egham comes fifth with 422 cheats (5.72%).

Caerphilly is Wales’ hotbed for infidelity, coming 8th in the table with 1,998 people cheating on their partners (5.31% of the town’s population).

Motherwell has been declared Scotland’s most unfaithful town taking 10th place, with 1,447 cheats (5.14% of the town’s population).

Northern Ireland, on the other hand, is the most faithful country in the UK with its top town for cheating taking 157th place with 541 cheats in Newtownards (just 2.35% of the town’s population).

IllicitEncounters.com spokeswoman Jessica Leoni said “Frome is the new cheating capital of the UK. There’s been an avalanche of affairs, as no doubt couples are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis, and that reflects in these statistics. 

High mortgage repayments, rising rent, sky-high energy bills, an increase in food prices – with all of this financial strain is it any wonder that relationships are being so badly affected?

On top of that, divorce is a costly and drawn-out process – a headache no one wants to deal with unless absolutely necessary. Having an affair is a cheaper and more accessible alternative, so it’s not surprising that numbers have shot up this year.”

More than 1.5 million people have registered with IllicitEncounters since it started in 2003.

The average income of men on the site is £56,000 a year – with most working in professional jobs – while the female average is £48,000 a year.

The UK’s top 20 cheating hotspots
 

1. Frome, Somerset – 1,309 cheats (7.32% of the town’s population)

2. Weybridge, Surrey – 946 cheats (5.95%)

3. Wilmslow, Cheshire – 1,484 cheats (5.77%)

4. Fulwood, Lancashire – 1,684 cheats (5.73%)

5. Egham, Surrey – 422 cheats (5.72%)

6. Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire – 1,288 cheats (5.53%)

7. Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire – 526 cheats (5.35%)

8. Caerphilly, Caerphilly – 1,998 cheats (5.31%)

9. Leatherhead, Surrey – 589 cheats (5.21%)

10. Motherwell, North Lanarkshire – 1,447 cheats (5.14%)

11. Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire – 847 cheats (5.11%)

12. Redhill, Surrey – 1382 cheats (4.89%)

13. Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire – 1,222 cheats (4.87%)

14. Arnold, Nottinghamshire – 1,946 cheats (4.87%)

15. Newton Abbot, Devon – 1,019 cheats (4.86%)

16. Kidsgrove, Staffordshire – 1,040 cheats (4.82%)

17. Chorley, Lancashire – 1,430 cheats (4.82%)

18. Farnham, Surrey – 1,007 cheats (4.80%)

19. Warwick, Warwickshire – 1,226 (4.77%)

20. Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire – 1,043 cheats (4.71%)

The UK’s top 10 most faithful towns
 

1. Blackpool, Lancashire – 570 cheats (0.38% of the town’s population)

2. Brentwood, Essex – 296 cheats (0.39%)

3. Wigan, Greater Manchester – 965 cheats (0.40%)

4. Craigavon, Craigavon – 229 cheats (0.43%)

5. Hartlepool, County Durham – 339 cheats (0.47%)

6. Ballymena, Ballymena – 103 cheats (0.49%)

7. Barry, Angus – 222 cheats (0.50%)

8. Bournemouth, Dorset – 780 cheats (0.51%)

9. Paignton, Devon – 272 cheats (0.51%)

10. Washington, Tyne and Wear – 296 cheats (0.54%)

Forget the 7-year itch: Relationship strain hits after just 3 years, study shows

* 1 in 3 people admit to having an affair in the third year of marriage

* Top reasons for the breakdown of relationships in the first three years include lack of intimacy, having children and boredom.

* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site

If you’re married or in a long-term relationship, you’ll almost definitely have heard about the concept of the seven-year itch – that moment when the initial excitement fades and cracks start appearing. Well, it turns out that in this fast-paced world, couples come to a crossroads much sooner, something that the contestants of Married at First Sight UK, might want to keep in mind as the new season begins.

According to research conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, who surveyed 2,000 of its members, 33% of married people turn to cheating in the third year of marriage.

Shockingly, 7% of people start having an affair in the first year as husband or wife, barely leaving time for the confetti to settle.

But, what causes such a strain on relationships so early on that people feel the need to fall back on infidelity? The poll found nearly half (48%) of married people blame a lack of intimacy for the downfall of their marriage. Having children (23%) and boredom (16%) were also cited as major factors in the breakdown of relationships.

Chloe, 36, from Aberdeen, who recently joined the married dating site IllicitEncounters.com, said, “If you asked me three years ago whether I could see myself cheating on my husband, I’d have laughed in your face. I was madly in love, there was so much passion, and I couldn’t have been happier on my wedding day. 

I think it was the routine that zapped away all of the excitement and lust though. The spontaneity at the beginning of our marriage completely died out, and everything just became so predictable: wake up, peck on the cheek, go to work, come home, peck on the cheek, have dinner, watch TV, peck on the cheek, go to sleep. In the third year of being husband and wife, that’s when the cycle just got too much for me and I decided to get my thrills elsewhere.”

Sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, Jessica Leoni, commented, “People have always believed in the seven-year itch, but then there was talk of the four-year itch, and now the stats show the restlessness kicks in after just three years.

For the MAFS contestants, it’s really important they’re aware of these figures as they navigate their way through their new marriages: getting married at first sight has its own challenges, but they’ll see fresh ones arise as the years go by. Marriages aren’t easy.

Couples might find that they start taking each other for granted more, and routine can make you feel like you’ve just got your relationship on autopilot. But, it’s during that third year of marriage that a desire for something new creeps in, wondering what life would be like outside of the relationship.

You could try to rediscover the sparks that brought you together in the first place. Having a go at something new together, or even just spicing things up in the bedroom can work wonders for a relationship. Ultimately, though, the itch gets a bit too much to ignore for some, and they’ll only get relief from all that scratching through infidelity.”

Extracurricular affairs: The back-to-school effect on relationships

 * 22% year-on-year increase in new sign-ups on extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com as children return to school

* Parents of primary school kids are most likely to be starting an affair (62%) of which 40% are first-timers

* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s leading married dating site
 

With the great British summer winding down, parents all over the UK are experiencing a wave of mixed emotions as schools reopen after the long break. For some, it’s a time of anxiety and uncertainty as their little ones timidly walk through the school gates for the first time. For others, it’s a moment of celebration, a happy return to peace and quiet, and a chance to regain a bit of sanity lost during the summer holiday. 

But with that sudden silence that falls upon homes after months of summer chaos, comes an unexpected shift in the mindset of parents. 

According to data released by IllicitEncounters.com, September doesn’t only signal new beginnings for the kids, mums and dads across the country are taking part in their own extracurricular activities too.

Registrations for the married dating site have seen a sharp increase in the first 10 days of September, with a 22% year-on-year rise in sign-ups.

Women in particular are flocking to the site, accounting for a hefty 71% of new registrations.

IllicitEncounters.com surveyed 500 recently active users and found that parents of primary school children are the worst offenders, as they’re declared the most likely to be starting an affair (62%), with 40% of them saying it’s their first time entering the world of cheating.

Lizzie from Oxford, a mum who recently joined the married dating site said, “Suddenly I’ve got all this free time on my hands during the day. The loneliness during school hours has already started kicking in, and to be honest, it’s revealed a world of opportunities and temptations I hadn’t considered before. 

My marriage went stale years ago, and at this point we’re staying together for the benefit of my child, but only now have I started realising that I can’t keep plodding along aimlessly. I want to live, I want to be appreciated, and I want to spend those few free hours during the day getting to know men who understand where I’m coming from.”

Alice from Southampton who also uses the website said, “The routine of school life seems to cast a massive shadow on my marriage every September, making me question the choices I’d made and the desires I keep hidden from my other half. 

Every year, the thrill of breaking the routine just becomes too tempting to resist. Don’t get me wrong, I had an amazing summer break in Spain playing happy families with my husband, but now he’s gone back to work and I’m back to sorting out the kids’ packed lunches – it’s just so dull. 

Some people might think I’m selfish but I need this for my own sanity – I love my kids like crazy, and I’m sure they’d rather see me looking chipper after a secret rendezvous than seeing me depressed lying on the sofa.”

When asked to comment on the data, sex and relationship expert Jessica Leoni responded, “This is a really interesting trend we often see in September. The return to routine can bring feelings of restlessness and the desire for new experiences. Women, in particular stay-at-home mums, find themselves with more available time as their children go back to school, which can lead to increased curiosity and opportunities for discreet exploration.

Summer holidays are also a massive driving force when it comes to turning to infidelity.  Spending extended periods of time with family can sometimes lead to heightened tensions and increased stress within relationships that were perhaps already looking a little shaky. 

Many of our members are looking to find sparks that have been missing over the summer, and with the kids returning to school, parents are breathing a sigh of relief as they regain some freedom and much-deserved ‘me’ time.”