The ideal ‘man for Europe’ has…
With the Eurovision Song Contest set to showcase the very best (and worst) of Europe this weekend, match.com’s LoveGeist report has today revealed the qualities which make up the ideal European date.
Research from the dating brand shows that British women want the dress sense (and cooking prowess) of an Italian stallion, the financial prudence of a German and the romantic streak of a Frenchman, all combined with the humour, manners and chivalry of a traditional British gent. The dancing feet of a Spaniard and health-consciousness of a Swede complete the composite picture of the perfect ‘man for Europe’.
When it comes to the art of seduction, British women are most likely to be attracted to an Italian man, while the UK’s men find French women the most seductive. Thankfully for both, match.com is home to thousands of singles from nationalities across Europe, all looking for dates in the UK*.
Unsurprisingly, the Europe-wide research showed up some differences in opinion between the participating nations as to what constitutes the perfect date. The survey of 11,000 Europeans found that while Brits agree with the European consensus that they have the best sense of humour (79 per cent), Germans also believe they are the most hilarious nation. The French consider themselves to be the most chivalrous and intelligent country while the Dutch believe they have better manners than Britons, and greater financial prowess than the Germans.
British daters were shown to be a confident bunch, rating themselves as the best for manners, kindness, intelligence, chivalry, honesty and in being open-minded.
Kate Taylor, relationship expert for match.com, comments: “With so many fine qualities in every nationality, deciding what you really want from a date can be tricky. I suggest daters narrow their must-have requirements down to three qualities. If a date meets these then see them again but if they don’t, give them nul points and move on. Thankfully, there are more ways than ever before to meet singles – from online dating, to match.com nights and socials where you can meet others in a bar or through shared interests. So keep optimistic, keep meeting new people, and you’ll soon find the right person to date.”
James Preece, dating expert for match.com, says: “Knowing the traits that are appealing to potential dates can give you some great insider knowledge if you want to impress. Subtle touches such as holding a door open or injecting a little sense of humour are simple ways to show that you are a considerate date. Bolder statements which push you out of your comfort zone such as cooking for your date, dancing or trying something new can help to show off your adventurous side, making the dating journey all the more enjoyable. Just remember, like Eurovision, you don’t have to be amazing at the things you try: it’s the willingness to take part that makes you attractive.”
Whether Brits are planning to search for a date in the UK or take a trip to the continent, match.com has produced an online guide to help Brits to date ‘the European way’. Whichever European characteristics Brits consider to be the most appealing, potential dates from a variety of nationalities and countries can be found on www.match.com – the largest community of singles in Europe.
Here’s a selection of the front-runners for this year’s Eurovision, along with where they score top marks in the dating stakes:
Spain
- Eurovision entry: Ruth Lorenzo – Dancing in the rain
- Most date-able for: Dancing
- Over 3% of match.com UK members who are not British are from Spain
UK
- Eurovision entry: Molly Smitten-Downes – Children of the universe
- Most date-able for: Humour, Manners, Chivalry, Kindness, Intelligence
- Over 80% (87%) of match.com UK members are British
France
- Eurovision entry: Twin Twin – Moustache
- Most date-able for: Romance
- 4% of match.com UK members who are not British are from France
Italy
- Eurovision entry: Emma – La Mia Citta
- Most date-able for: Dress sense, Cooking, In the bedroom
- 4% of match.com UK members who are not British are from Italy
Germany
- Eurovision entry: Elaiza – Is it right
- Most date-able for: Financial stability
- 2% of match.com UK members who are not British are from Germany
Sweden
- Eurovision entry: Sanna Neilsen – Undo
- Most date-able for: Health-consciousness
- 2% of match.com UK members who are not British are from Sweden
The Netherlands
- Eurovision entry: The Common Linnets – Calm after the storm
- 1% of match.com UK members who are not British are Dutch
ENDS
Notes to editors
For further information or interviews with match.com’s male and female relationship experts please contact match@brands2life.com
For advice about how to date the European way visit: http://advice.uk.match.com/dating-advice/how-date-european-way
About LoveGeist
Since it was launched in 2009, match.com’s definitive annual LoveGeist study has tracked changing attitudes towards dating and relationships in the UK and Ireland, taking into account the views and attitudes of over 200,000 people. The report has built up a unique picture of what people really care about when it comes to dating and relationships, providing an insight into current and emerging trends.
About the research
Research undertaken by YouGov, interpretation by Brands2Life.
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 11760 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 15th – 22nd November 2013. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
After clarifying their gender and sexuality, respondents were randomly shown one profile with the only difference being one of ten names. The total heterosexual male sample size was 4,921. The total heterosexual female sample size was 5,536.
LoveGeist study: Total sample size was 2,178 adults who are single (i.e. not in a committed relationship), of which 393 were actively seeking a relationship / dating. The sample included singles from a nationally representative study and those from 8 regional conurbations. Fieldwork was undertaken between 4th – 11th September 2013. The survey was carried out online. The figures are unweighted.