First Dates star Fred Sirieix, 52, has opened up about the parental guilt he struggles with as he made a puzzling statement about his children’s upbringing.
The French expat moved to the UK permanently in 1992 and shares two daughters with former partner Alex Spendolini, Team GB Olympian Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, 20, and Lucien, 16.
The Million Pound Menu star explained that “the separation between a man and a woman was (made) very clear” after the birth of his eldest daughter.
Speaking to Giovanna Fletcher on her Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Sirieix said “it’s a very easy thing for a mum” to bond with their child.
“Women are very lucky because you give birth straight away” he continued and added this was especially so: “If you are lucky to be able to breastfeed, which most women are.
“Because I didn’t have any breasts, and I couldn’t breastfeed. Because if I could breastfeed, I would have done it. I would have done it,” the former maître d’hôtel insisted.
He concluded wistfully on the parent-child connection established during breastfeeding: “That’s it, the bond is done. I don’t have any breast. I cannot compete with your breast, can’t compete with that.”
Sirieix said he accepted that the natural “order of things” meant that mothers usually spend more time with their children.
“We are mammals, right? So, mommy stays at home and looks after the kid and daddy goes to work. We can, of course, change things, but by and large (this) is what happens.”
Continuing, the 52-year-old said he believes “we don’t give due prominence or due importance to dads” and added: “It takes two to make a baby.”
However, the former maître d’hôtel also revealed “the guilt that you feel as a dad” had stuck with him for many years.
The First Dates host admitted he constantly worried if he was “there enough, doing enough, or supporting enough” as his children grew up.
The guilt is something Sirieix says he “wasn’t prepared for” as part of a feeling of “total helplessness” after the birth of his daughter, Andrea.
Sirieix explained that he was stunned and “couldn’t move” when a midwife first handed his eldest daughter to him.
20 years on, Andrea is a successful athlete who proudly represented Team GB at the Paris Olympics this year.
Andrea took home a bronze in the 10m synchronised dive at the games and will compete in LA 2028.
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Sirieix explained that he is proud of his daughter’s “incredible” achievements at the Olympics and World Championships.
Speaking to her over dinner after her medal-winning performance, the 52-year-old told his daughter: “Today you’re not doing Olympics, tomorrow you’re going to university. So, let’s concentrate on that.”