Unlucky in love - Top 10 bad dating behaviours

The romantic high hopes of many British singletons are devastated by a catalogue of errors - from turning up late to getting drunk and talking about a former partner, according to the latest research from online dating firm parship.co.uk.

An estimated eight million singles in the UK are looking for love, and they will go on a staggering 18 million first dates this year. But at least six million of those will end in disaster, and even fewer will lead to something special. And it seems it could be simply bad dating manners that are nipping hopes of romance in the bud.

Parship (bless 'em) has compiled a list of the top ten bad dating behaviours based on their survey --

TOP TEN BAD DATING BEHAVIOURS

1. Entrances & Exits
On average, 30 per cent of men and 48 per cent of women admitted to turning up late for a first date, with one in ten women keeping the man waiting for 30 minutes or more. However, 12 per cent of women and 6 per cent of men admitted to taking advantage of their date's absence at the bar or in the loo, and leaving without saying goodbye. Some dates never even got that far - a total of 5 per cent of those polled said they had turned up to a date, not liked what they saw and then made a speedy exit.

2. The Ex
Most people know they shouldn't talk about their ex on a first date, but for one in five men and women the urge has proved too great. In a similar vein, 12 per cent of men and 6 per cent of women admitted to talking about previous sexual experiences.

3. Drinking
Eleven per cent of men and 14 per cent of women say they've drunk so much alcohol on a first date that they've felt they weren't fully in control of themselves.

4. Yours or mine?
30 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women admitted to going home with their date, with one in four men and one in five women claiming it led to sex.

5. The Bill
Credit-crunched Brits are now more likely to keep their hands firmly in their pockets, particularly if the date isn't going well. One in four women and per cent per cent of men say they've purposely not offered to contribute financially towards the evening, leaving it to their date to pick up the bill.

6. Lies and more lies
Eight per cent of singletons say they've lied about their age on a first date; six per cent pretend that they're not dating other people, four per cent lie about their job and salary, three per cent that they still live with their parents - and 2 per cent have conveniently forgotten that they're not in fact single.

7. What's in a name?
Ten per cent of men and three per cent of women say they've even forgotten their date's name.

8. Three's company
Five per cent of women and three per cent of men say they've been chaperoned by a friend or even their mother - on a first date.

9. Arguments
With all these bad manners going on, maybe it's surprising that just 3 per cent of singles say they've spoiled the evening by arguing.

10. Text, please!
Four per cent of women and two per cent of men say they've called or texted another potential date in the course of a first date.

How many of these - and which ones - are YOU guilty of?