Gogglebox's Daniel Lustig-Webb appears on First Dates: Be My Valentine but why did he split with Stephen?
Daniel makes a surprise admission about StephenGogglebox’s Daniel Lustig-Webb is looking for love after his split with co-star and husband Stephen, so is trying his luck on First Dates: Be My Valentine.
Daniel, 50, is on the lookout for ‘the love of his life’ and hopes Fred Sirieix and the First Dates gang will help.
In tonight’s Valentine’s Day special of the Channel 4 show, Daniel goes on a date with a 49-year-old called Simon.
Simon works as a paramedic and lives just 20 minutes away from Daniel.
During the episode, Daniel opens up about his break-up with Stephen. But why did they split?
Why did Gogglebox’s Daniel Lustig-Webb split with Stephen?
Gogglebox fans will instantly recognise Daniel when they watch First Dates: Be My Valentine.
The hairdresser starred alongside his then-partner, Gogglebox OG Stephen, and their pet poodles from 2019. Previously, Stephen had appeared on the show with his ex and friend, Chris Ashby-Steed.
The couple announced they were leaving Googlebox in September 2023. Stephen later claimed he was ‘bored of his own jokes’.
He told The Mirror: “I got to the 10th anniversary of Gogglebox. I started feeling like Ken Barlow… there from day one. I was churning out the same old [bleep].”
The couple then announced their split six months later. Daniel has since insisted there was nothing “scandalous” about why they had broken up.
Daniel went on to tell Best’s Suddenly Single podcast: “There was nothing underhand happening, no-one had slept with anyone else.
“Stephen was the complete opposite to me, and we’d say opposites attracted, but fundamentally that was our problem in the end.”
Stephen has since appeared on E4’s Celebs Go Dating. However, his search for a new man on the show was fruitless.
Daniel Lustig-Webb on First Dates: Be My Valentine
Daniel arrives at the First Dates restaurant with high hopes for finding a man. He admits he struggles with using dating apps and says he wants “George Clooney, Brad Pitt vibes, not Norman Soon-to-be Retired”.
Daniel says: “I have been single for about 10 months. In the summer I had a little bit of a dating frenzy. In one month, I went on about 17 dates.
“I’m looking for funny and kind, fit and healthy with hair.”
Daniel is introduced to Simon, who has two grown up children and three grandchildren. Soon enough, he asks Daniel if he recognises him from somewhere.
Daniel admits: “I was on Gogglebox with my ex. We were the guys with poodles, sitting on the couch. I was married up until last year. We were together for 12 years.”
Daniel admits he still lives with Stephen
Daniel is then seen talking to the cameras about his marriage breakdown. And he isn’t shy in admitting it really hit him hard.
“When you break up with someone, especially if you’ve been married and you’ve given your heart to it, it’s upsetting. And it was upsetting,” Daniel admits.
“I definitely felt like I was grieving for a good six months. It was very hard to get over it.
“If you’re going to get married, you think you’re going to be together forever. Your heart is stuck on that. So, when you separate, it’s very hard to get out of that funk.”
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Back in the restaurant with Simon, Daniel makes a very surprise admission.
He tells his shocked date: “It is difficult, because we still live together.” Raising his eyebrows, Simon replies: “Oh, okay.”
Daniel smiles: “But we’re not sharing a bed. He’s in the other room, I’m in this room. Eventually we will sell our place and move on.”
That’s quite a lot to unpack. But will it be enough to put Simon off?
Read more: Fred Sirieix in First Dates first as he stars as a diner in Valentine’s special with wife Fruitcake
