Looking for love during lockdown | BBC Radio Solent's Lou Hannan

I’m being cynical, I know, but it got us thinking on the radio show about love during lockdown.

What’s it like being cooped up with your partner 24/7 when perhaps you’re not used to it?

Or going the other way, being apart from your partner if you live at separate addresses?

We had some great stories on air from couples across the south.

One that stuck in my mind was that of pastors Dan and Laura, from Portsmouth, who explained how, at the beginning of lockdown they were slightly anxious about not having a break from each other, with the ability to go out removed.

However, when we chatted to them, it was clear they’d overcome this initial anxiety and instead the only thing Laura had to complain about was the fact that Dan hadn’t worn anything other than tracksuit bottoms for more than two months.

I have heard of couples who, instead of piling on the Covid kilos, have started fitness regimes together using this time to take up some exercise and eat much more healthily.

Also, the couples who’ve rediscovered their love for each other now they’ve got chance to slow down, get their heads out of work and relax together.

Of course, for many people the stress involved with health, finances, employment and home schooling has tested the strongest of relationships. I’ve also seen lots on social media about the number of couples who are fairly early into their dating story and don’t share a house.

Instead of meeting up for dinner and trips to the cinema, they’ve introduced virtual date nights with each of them dressing up to the nines, mixing a cocktail and cooking a nice dinner, and then sitting in front of a computer screen and chatting to their date. It’s certainly inventive.

Interestingly, the number of people signing up to online dating apps rose to more than 14 million during lockdown.

It surprised me a bit as I’d have thought meeting a new partner would be far from anyone’s thoughts. However maybe there’s an element of boredom (or something else) involved...

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