Will YOUR relationship fall victim to 'Blue Monday'? Infidelity website claims it's struggling to meet demand after a flurry of new year sign-ups - with affairs peaking TODAY
- Relationship experts warn more people are likely to start having an affair today
- Read more: Relationship experts explain why January sees a spike in breakups
A dating website designed for married people to have affairs have said it's struggling to keep up with demand after a surge in sign-ups.
Illicit Encounters, has reported a 33 per cent increase in registrations compared to this time last year, and predicts the number to keep going up throughout the week.
The increase in infidelity is thought to be driven by post-holiday blues and a desire for a fresh start in the New Year.
So much so that today has been dubbed Divorce Day - as law firms brace themselves for an avalanche of cases post Christmas.
Speaking to Femail, Jessica Leoni, from Illicit Encounters said: 'It's the busiest we've ever been. The start of a new year always prompts a spike, but 2025 has started off with unprecedented demand.
'In fact, we've admittedly been struggling to keep up with the surge in sign-ups, but we've got a team working around the clock to keep things running smoothly.'
Jessica has also dubbed today 'Blue Monday for relationships' due to a surge in break-ups.
One new member of Illicit Encounters, from Brighton, revealed why she joined the platform on New Year's Day.
Leading affairs site, IllicitEncounters.com, has reported a staggering 33 percent increase in new member registrations compared to this time last year, with the trend expected to climb further as the week progresses (stock image)
The 38-year-old said she felt disillusioned after years of feeling invisible in her marriage.
'It wasn't an impulsive decision.
'I've been unhappy for a long time, and after the Christmas holidays, I realised I couldn't keep pretending everything was fine,' she said.
'I joined hoping to find someone who sees me, someone who brings joy back into my life.
'It's not just about physical intimacy – although that's important – it's also about feeling wanted and valued again.'
Jessica added that the post-holiday period often exacerbates relationship tensions.
'People spend weeks in close quarters during the festive season, which can highlight existing cracks,' she said.
'January feels like a fresh start, and for some, that means exploring new connections, even outside their relationship.'
Relationship experts warn that more people are likely to start having an affair today than any other time of the year (stock image)
Meanwhile the first working Monday in January has also long held the grim nickname of 'Divorce Day' and Stowe Family Law, revealed they are bracing themselves for an avalanche of enquiries.
Stowe launched a nationwide survey to dissect the infamous 'Divorce Day' and results found that the biggest regret women have around divorce is that they didn't initiate proceedings sooner.
80 percent of the women polled wished they had not stayed in their marriage as long as they did, compared to 42 percent of men.
Results also revealed that 87 percent of women initiated or made the mutual decision to divorce, 54 percent cited the key reasons being that the couple had grown apart and wanted different things, 30 percent said adultery, 24 percent said domestic abuse and 16 percent cited financial reasons.
Meanwhile only 11 percent of women regretted their decision to divorce, with 43 percent saying divorce was the healthiest thing to do.
Filomena Sterkaj, Partner at Stowe Family Law, said: 'It does not surprise me that women's biggest divorce regret is not doing it sooner. It is very common amongst my female clients that they initiated the divorce, as they have simply reached the end of their tether.
'Separation is often not about a big event or explosion, and it can come from either side, or be a mutual decision.
'Holidays such as Christmas can magnify how separate a couple's lives have become, making the decision unavoidable.
'Commonly, people often have been waiting a long time to commence divorce and they wait for the holidays to pass before making a fresh start.
'However, while so-called 'Divorce Day' can be a catalyst for people to pick up the phone to a family law firm, it is important they are aware of the long-term impact of divorce, including financial implications.
'Getting early legal advice with an expert family lawyer (most of whom offer a free initial consultation) will give people insight into what divorce might mean for them and their families before starting the process.'
'Interestingly, the poll also revealed that women are much less keen to remarry, with 50 percent refusing another trip down the aisle, compared to just a quarter of divorced men.'
