Tag: holiday affairs

Today is the day that people are more likely to start having an affair than any other time of the year

* Dubbed ‘Blue Monday for relationships’, the 5th January marks the day most people turn to infidelity after festive tensions expose cracks in their relationships.
* New registrations on IllicitEncounters.com are forecast to rise by 38% by the end of this week, prompting the site to bring in additional staff for the second consecutive year to cope with demand.
* 71% say ending an unhappy relationship is a top priority this year, while 56% admit having more sex is high on their 2026 to-do list.

As the decorations come down and reality bites, today is the day more Brits will choose to pursue an affair than any other day of the year, according to relationship experts – and it’s all driven by post-holiday blues and a desire for a fresh start.

The 5th January has been dubbed ‘Blue Monday for relationships’ – sharing the spotlight with Divorce Day, as both land on the first working Monday of the year.  

According to new data from IllicitEncounters.com, registrations are forecast to be 38% higher by the end of this week, making this one of the site’s busiest starts to a year on record. The surge has been so significant that additional customer support staff have been drafted in for the second consecutive year to manage the influx of new members seeking an affair..

The site also surveyed 1,000 members who joined during the first few days of January, revealing the emotional drivers behind the spike. A striking 64% said the festive period made them realise how unhappy they were in their relationship, while 49% admitted that spending extended time with their partner over Christmas confirmed feelings they had been trying to ignore.

When asked about their priorities for the year ahead, 71% said leaving an unhappy relationship or starting divorce proceedings was at the top of their list, followed closely by having more sex (56%), feeling desired again (51%), and putting their own happiness first (47%).

One woman who joined the site this week, Sarah*, 39, from Leeds, says Christmas was the final straw. “On paper, we had a perfect Christmas – family visits, big dinners, presents – but I felt completely invisible the entire time,” she says. “We barely spoke unless it was about logistics. When January arrived, I realised I couldn’t go into another year feeling this lonely. Signing up felt like taking control again.”

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert for IllicitEncounters.com, says the timing is no coincidence. “The festive chaos is over, routines return, and people suddenly have space to act. That combination of clarity, dissatisfaction and opportunity makes early January the most dangerous period of the year for struggling relationships.

The post-Christmas surge in activity on IllicitEncounters has become so consistent that, for the second consecutive year, we’ve needed additional staff to manage the influx of new members. It underlines just how significant early January has become in the relationship calendar.”

“Christmas has a way of magnifying everything that isn’t working in a relationship,” she explains. “There’s pressure to be happy, affectionate and grateful — and when the reality doesn’t match the picture, it can be deeply confronting. By early January, people are emotionally exhausted and far more honest with themselves about what they’re missing.”

She adds: “January represents a psychological reset. For some, that means diets or gym memberships — but for others, it’s about reclaiming intimacy, excitement and feeling wanted again.”

*Name has been changed.

Affair surge expected on ‘Frisky Friday’ as schools break up for summer holidays

* Tomorrow is ‘Frisky Friday’ – with a 71% surge in affairs expected as schools break up for summer
* Cheaters scramble for one last steamy meet-up before holidays make affairs harder to hide
* The most popular excuse for getting away to meet a lover tomorrow? Solo hobbies like golf, shopping and the gym top the alibi list
* One married mum admits she’s swapping her ‘pilates workshop’ for a hotel rendezvous
* The study was conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site

Tomorrow marks ‘Frisky Friday’ – the day extramarital affairs are set to spike as the UK officially slides into summer holiday mode.

IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s leading dating site for married people, is predicting a 71% increase in activity tomorrow compared to the average Friday, as schools across the country break up for summer. With family routines about to shift and holidays looming, thousands of cheaters are scrambling to squeeze in one last passionate meet-up with their lovers before family commitments make it harder to sneak away.

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, said:
“Frisky Friday is like the Black Friday of affairs – it’s the final flurry before the summer holidays throw a spanner in people’s secret sex lives. When the kids are off school and spouses are around more, it becomes far more difficult to slip away unnoticed – so tomorrow is all about getting that final rendezvous before reality kicks in.”

According to a poll of 2,000 members making the most of Frisky Friday, the most popular alibi being used tomorrow is the solo hobby excuse – with 38% saying they’ll be heading to the gym, playing golf, going shopping or engaging in some other individual pursuit as cover for their affair. 

Another 29% will rely on the classic “working late” or other vague work commitments to justify their absence, while 17% say they’ll be “running errands” or attending appointments. Meanwhile, 11% will claim they’re simply meeting up with friends. The remaining 5% cited more creative excuses, ranging from volunteering stints to made-up fitness classes – one member even claimed to be helping walk rescue dogs this afternoon.

“People are creatures of habit – and that includes their alibis,” says Leoni. “For many people, the trick is to keep it boring and believable. The gym, work, or errands are all classic, low-risk covers because they’re solo and hard to verify. But some people get more inventive. The key is consistency and confidence – no one questions the person who looks like they’ve got it all together.”

One anonymous member, Shannon, a 44-year-old married mum of two from Hertfordshire, says she’s been planning her ‘Frisky Friday’ rendezvous for weeks. “I’ve told my husband I’ve booked a pilates workshop followed by lunch with a friend – but in reality, I’m spending the day in a hotel with my lover. My lover’s off on a family holiday next week, so this is our last chance to be together until September. We’ve both been counting down the days.” She adds, “It sounds mad, but there’s something thrilling about carving out time like this. It’s risky, but that’s part of the excitement.”

According to Jessica Leoni, “IllicitEncounters.com typically sees a sharp uptick in sign-ups and messaging activity in the week leading up to the school holidays – and this year is no exception. ‘Frisky Friday’ is now a well-known peak in the affairs calendar, with July consistently ranking among the busiest months for discreet encounters. For many, tomorrow marks the last opportunity for a summer fling before family beach trips, staycations and school holiday chaos take centre stage.”

Results
Top excuses people will be using on ‘Frisky Friday’ to meet their lovers:

38% will use their ‘solo hobbies’ (e.g. gym, golf, shopping) as their alibi.
29% will rely on ‘working late’ or other ‘work commitments’.
17% will be ‘running errands’ or have scheduled appointments
11% will be meeting up with friends
Other 5%

Scorching Temperatures Send Affairs Site Sign-Ups Soaring During a ‘Cheatwave’ as UK Baked on the Hottest Day of the Year

* Affairs site IllicitEncounters.com saw a 58% surge in new sign-ups in the past four days – peaking on Tuesday as temperatures hit 34.7°C

* Women made up 62% of new members, with the biggest spike among 35–44-year-olds

* 68% of new members said the heat made them feel “more impulsive,” while 55% admitted the weather gave them the “final push” to cheat

* Experts say “sundrunk” Brits lose inhibitions in hot weather, entering a holiday mindset even at home

As Britain sweltered through its hottest day of the year, with temperatures hitting a blistering 34.7°C in London, experts are warning of an unexpected side effect of the heatwave – a dramatic surge in cheating. 

Dubbed the ‘cheatwave’, this phenomenon has seen sign-ups to the UK’s leading affairs site, IllicitEncounters.com, skyrocket by 58% over the past four days, peaking on Tuesday as the mercury climbed to its highest level.

Experts point to a dangerous cocktail of hormonal surges, lowered inhibitions, and “heatwave hedonism” that drives otherwise loyal partners to stray. “When the sun blazes, so do passions,” says Jessica Leoni, sex and relationship expert for IllicitEncounters.com. “We see this with every heatwave – the hotter it gets, the more people seek excitement outside their relationships. Extreme heat essentially rewires our impulses.”

From Saturday to Tuesday, new registrations on the affairs site surged by 58% compared to the same period last year, with Tuesday being the peak. Women accounted for 62% of new members, with the most common age group being 35-44-year-olds (45%), followed by 45-54-year-olds (32%).

One member who joined on the hottest day of the year, “Sarah” (39, from Brighton), admits the scorching weather pushed her over the edge. “I’d been unhappy for months, but the heatwave was the final nudge,” she says. “Yesterday, I was lying in the garden, sweating, bored, and scrolling on my phone. The sun made me feel restless – like I needed to do something reckless. By 4PM, I’d signed up.”

Sarah isn’t alone. A poll of 1,000 new members found that 68% said the heat made them “more impulsive,” while 55% admitted they’d been considering an affair for some time – but the soaring temperatures gave them the “final push.”

Sexpert Jessica Leoni added, “The sunshine strips away inhibition. It’s like the British public have collectively entered their holiday persona – even if they’re not abroad. We call it ‘sundrunk.’ You’re not drinking rosé on the Med, but you’re mentally already there.”

Easter Break Sparks Surge in Secret Affairs Among Britain’s School Staff

* Affairs site IllicitEncounters.com saw a 39% spike in sign-ups from school employees ahead of the Easter break.

* Teachers top the list of school staff who have signed up for ‘extra-curricular activities’ (36%), followed by caretakers (21%) and teaching assistants (16%).

* 87% of school workers admit that they plan to cheat while their partners are stuck at work.

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

With schools closed for the Easter holidays, a surprising trend has emerged among overworked school staff  – and it doesn’t involve lesson planning and marking homework.

IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s leading affairs site, reported a 39% spike in new registrations from school employees last week in the lead-up to the Easter break. 

The site conducted a poll of 600 randomly selected members who joined between the 31st March and the 6th April, and found that 83% work in education. 

The data reveals that teachers account for 36% of the new school staff signups, followed by caretakers (21%), teaching assistants (16%), dinner ladies (12%), school admin employees (9%), and headteachers (4%).

According to the site’s poll, a whopping 87% of these school-based members admitted they are planning to meet lovers while their partners are at work, taking advantage of the unique freedom the break offers. In fact, 64% said school holidays were the only time they could arrange daytime meetups without raising suspicion.

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, says, “School holidays are often some of the busiest times of the year for our site, especially among teachers and other staff. The school breaks create a rare window of opportunity for affairs to flourish. While partners are stuck in the 9 to 5 grind, school staff have the freedom to explore without interruption.

What’s interesting is the emotional honesty we see in people joining the site. Many are in long-term, loving relationships, but there’s a sexual void they’ve quietly carried for years.”

One such member is Amy*, who works in a school in Yorkshire. Married for over a decade to a man suffering from long-term health issues, she describes her relationship as “perfect – except for the complete lack of sex.” After spending years suppressing her desires, she turned to IllicitEncounters last year. 

“I was secretly miserable,” she said. “My husband has ED and it’s been that way for years. There’s loads of support out there for men going through that – how to protect their self-esteem, how to help them emotionally – but almost nothing about how to cope if you’re the wife. It felt like I didn’t exist in the conversation.”

Amy admits that she’ll be using the school Easter break to meet with members of the affairs site. “Holidays are ideal,” she explains. “No one’s suspicious if I’m out during the day. Everyone assumes I’m just enjoying my time off.”

She insists her affair isn’t a betrayal, but a release. “I don’t want romance – I’ve got that at home. What I needed was a physical outlet, a chance to feel like a woman again. This site made that possible. It’s safe, private, and surprisingly empowering.”

*Name has been changed

Breakdown of school staff sign-ups

Teachers – 36%
Caretakers – 21%
Teaching assistants – 16%
Dinnerladies – 12%
School admin staff – 9%
Headteachers – 4%
Other – 2%

People are more likely to start having an affair today than any other time of the year

* Dubbed ‘Blue Monday’ for relationships, the 6th 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 33% compared to the same time last year, with the website struggling to keep up with the ‘unprecedented demand’.

* 37% of people who have joined the website since the start of 2025 say they did so in search of physical intimacy, 29% seek the thrill and excitement of an affair, and 21% are looking for emotional support.

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

Today is the day that people are most likely to have an affair. The 6th January, dubbed ‘Blue Monday’ for relationships, shares the spotlight with Divorce Day, as both land on the first working Monday of the year. 

Relationship experts warn that more people are likely to start having an affair today than any other time of the year, driven by post-holiday blues and a desire for a fresh start.

Leading affairs site, IllicitEncounters.com, has reported a staggering 33% increase in new member registrations compared to this time last year, with the trend expected to climb further as the week progresses. 

The website, which caters to those seeking discreet extramarital connections, has been overwhelmed by the influx. “It’s the busiest we’ve ever been. The start of a new year always prompts a spike, but 2025 has started off with unprecedented demand – in fact, we’ve admittedly been struggling to keep up with the surge in sign-ups, but we’ve got a team working around the clock to keep things running smoothly.” said IllicitEncounters.com spokesperson, Jessica Leoni.

To gain insight into the motivations driving this surge, the site conducted a poll of 500 newly registered members. Physical intimacy emerged as the top reason, cited by 37% of respondents, while 29% admitted to seeking the thrill and excitement of an affair. Meanwhile, 21% said they were looking for emotional support, a void left unfilled in their current relationships. A smaller percentage (5%) joined as an act of revenge after discovering their partner’s infidelity.

Kathy*, 38 from Brighton who joined the platform on New Year’s Day, shared her perspective, describing how she felt disillusioned after years of feeling invisible in her marriage. “It wasn’t an impulsive decision. I’ve been unhappy for a long time, and after the Christmas holidays, I realised I couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine,” she said. “I joined hoping to find someone who sees me, someone who brings joy back into my life. It’s not just about physical intimacy – although that’s important – it’s also about feeling wanted and valued again.”

According to IllicitEncounters.com’s spokesperson, Jessica Leoni, “The post-holiday period often exacerbates relationship tensions. People spend weeks in close quarters during the festive season, which can highlight existing cracks. January feels like a fresh start, and for some, that means exploring new connections, even outside their relationship.”

*Name has been changed.

Couples issued warning ahead of ‘Unfaithful Friday’ as biggest day for infidelity lands tomorrow

* Friday 6th December is the most popular day in the winter for having an affair, as adulterers celebrate ‘Cheatmas’ before holiday stress and family commitments kick in.

* Extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com reported a 28% increase in activity among members in the leadup to ‘Unfaithful Friday’.

* Adulterers who’ll be celebrating tomorrow have revealed the excuses they’ll be telling their partners, with 52% declaring they’ll be ‘working late’.

Couples across the country are being warned to keep an eye on their partners as the 6th December, dubbed ‘Unfaithful Friday’, is set to be the busiest day of the year for cheating, according to the UK’s most popular extramarital dating site.

IllicitEncounters.com has reported a 28% spike in activity on the website in the lead-up to the notorious day. The so-called ‘Cheatmas’ phenomenon, which typically falls on the first Friday of December, sees adulterers taking advantage of the calm before the holiday storm, using the day to indulge in infidelity before the stress of family gatherings and festive commitments take over.

A survey conducted by IllicitEncounters.com which involved 2,000 of its members found that 66% have already arranged secret meetings on ‘Unfaithful Friday’. 

For those who will be celebrating the controversial day, cheaters are seemingly well-prepared with the excuses they’ll be telling their partners. By far the most popular cover-up will be ‘working late’, with over half of respondents (52%) saying they’ll be clocking imaginary overtime.

Meanwhile, 21% will be claiming they’re off doing some ‘Christmas shopping’ and 18% will be insisting they’re simply ‘out with friends’.

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, explains that ‘Unfaithful Friday’ represents the perfect storm for infidelity. “The holiday season brings a mix of stress, social events, and family obligations, which can cause some people to seek comfort outside their primary relationships. The timing of ‘Unfaithful Friday’ is particularly irresistible for cheaters, as it marks a final chance for freedom before the chaos of the holidays sets in.”

One anonymous user of the site shared their own plans for the day. “I’ve arranged to meet my lover for a long lunch while my partner thinks I’m stuck in back-to-back meetings,” they said. “It’s an escape from the pressures of the season. The holiday frenzy makes it easy to slip away unnoticed – everyone’s so distracted, they barely notice.”

Leoni advises couples to stay alert for subtle changes in behaviour, such as increased secrecy with phones or suddenly packed schedules. “Communication and connection are key to avoiding being on the Naughty List this festive season,” she added.

Christmas Decorations Are the Number One Cause of Arguments For Couples During the Festive Season

*  34% of people admitted that decorating disputes are their biggest festive stress, causing the most arguments in the run-up to Christmas.
* Gift-giving (26%) also ranks high in the list of common Christmas tiffs, followed by disputes over finances during the notoriously costly festive season (18%).
* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site.

Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but for many couples, it’s a battlefield – and the war is being waged over tinsel, baubles, and Christmas trees. 

A new poll by extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com has revealed that the number one cause of arguments in the run-up to Christmas is not money or family, but holiday decorations. A staggering 34% of people admitted that decorating disputes are their biggest festive stress, leaving finances and family squabbles trailing behind.

“I never thought hanging fairy lights could ruin a relationship, but here we are,” joked one anonymous respondent. “I wanted a classy white-and-gold theme, but my partner insisted on his tacky, blinking rainbow lights. It turned into a full-blown argument.”

Even the process of decorating together can trigger conflicts. Nearly half of those who argued over decorations (48%) said they fought because one partner didn’t contribute enough to the effort or didn’t take it seriously. 

The second most common culprit for conflict over Christmas is gift-giving. 26% of people admitted that shopping for presents had led to heated arguments. Whether it’s deciding how much to spend, picking the perfect gift, or one partner shouldering all the shopping responsibilities, the process leaves many couples feeling more frazzled than festive.

18% of people say money is the main cause of arguments in the lead up to Christmas. The costs of decorations, parties, and travel quickly add up, and disagreements about budgets put a strain on wallets – and relationships. 

Arguments over cooking at Christmas (11%), and visiting relatives (6%) also featured in the list.

Commenting on the results of the poll, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, Jessica Leoni, said, “Bickering about decorations is almost as much a Christmas tradition as mince pies and bad cracker jokes. Every couple has that one yearly debate – whether it’s about a garish light-up Santa or how much glitter is too much.”

In many cases, however, there’s a deeper meaning to these ‘tinsel tiffs’, “For some, Christmas decorations are more than just ornaments – they’re tied to personal traditions, childhood memories, and even identity,” Leoni explains. “For many couples, these arguments aren’t just about the decorations themselves but about feeling heard and respected. If one partner’s vision keeps getting dismissed, it can lead to feelings of resentment.”

Results
Most common cause of arguments over the festive period

Christmas decorations – 34%
Gift-giving – 26%
Financial costs – 18%
Christmas cooking – 11%
Visiting relatives – 6%
Other – 5%

Today is the peak day for affairs as schools break up for the summer holidays, study finds

* Dubbed ‘Frisky Friday’, there is expected to be a 74% rise in people seeking an affair as schools break up for the summer holidays.

* A whopping 41% of cheats will be meeting up with their lovers at lunchtime today, whilst 7% have admitted they’ve planned a sneaky weekend away before spending the next six weeks with family.

* For cheats who won’t be able to see their lovers this summer, they’ll be using discreet apps like Telegram (42%) and Signal (31%). Whilst others have set up private email addresses (28%), bought a separate phone (8%) and even plan on passing on messages through mutual friends (5%).

* The study was conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site.

As the temperature rises and schools close their doors for the summer, there’s more than just holidays on the horizon. Today is the day people are most likely to cheat – dubbed ‘Frisky Friday’, the 19th July promises a flurry of secret meet-ups, as love rats scramble to spend time with their lovers before settling into full-time family mode over the summer break.

According to statistics from the UK’s largest extramarital dating site, IllicitEncounters.com, the first two weeks of July have already shown a 26% increase in activity. However, the real ‘cheatwave’ is predicted for the third week, with user activity expected to spike by 55% and that’s due to peak today, as a whopping 74% rise in user activity is anticipated.

So, when exactly will these secret liaisons take place? According to a poll conducted by the affairs site involving 1,500 of its members, ‘Frisky Friday’ is looking to be a packed day for love rats. The majority of trysts are set to take place during lunch breaks, as 41% of cheaters slip away from their desks for a bite of forbidden fruit. 

A substantial 30% have scheduled evening meet-ups, sneaking in some passion before heading home to their unsuspecting partners. 

Others will be kick starting their day with an early encounter, as 22% plan on engaging in morning mischief.

The boldest of the bunch, making up 7%, are planning entire weekends away, fully immersing themselves in their extramarital escapades.

Maintaining these secret relationships over the summer holidays, with less freedom for parents and playing happy families becoming their priority, cheaters have revealed which methods they’ll be using to keep in touch with their lovers.

Instant messaging apps Telegram (42%) and Signal (31%) are the top choice for love rats looking to stay connected with their illicit partners over the summer break. 

Dedicated email accounts created with the sole purpose of keeping in touch with lovers for secret correspondence will help 28% of love rats maintain a cloak of secrecy.

8% of cheats will be using burner phones to maintain contact with their paramours, whilst 5% will be enlisting mutual friends as go-betweens for an extra layer of discretion this summer.

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, commented on the ‘Frisky Friday’ phenomenon, saying, “When the school year wraps up, parents often find themselves with less freedom as the kids are around constantly, and it all becomes about keeping up appearances and family getaways.

On top of that, warmer weather and the excitement of the summer season often lead to increased risk-taking behaviour. We see this ‘cheatwave’ every July, and it seems that this year more people than ever before will be making the most of ‘Frisky Friday’, so couples should keep an eye out for those furtive glances and unexplained absences – today is set to be a day of discreet dalliances and secretive shenanigans.”

Results

When will people be meeting with their lovers on ‘Frisky Friday’?

Lunchtime 41%

Evening 30%

Morning 22%

Weekend away 7%

How will love rats maintain contact with lovers over the summer?

Telegram app 42%

Signal app 31%

Private email address 28%

Separate phone 8%

Contact via mutual friends 5%

Other 6%

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%

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.”