A dating website designed for married people to have affairs has said it is struggling to keep up with demand after a surge in sign-ups.
Illicit Encounters has reported a 33 percent increase in registrations compared to this time last year, and predicts the number will continue to rise throughout the week.
The rise in infidelity is believed to be due to post-holiday blues and the desire for a fresh start in the New Year.
So much so that today has been dubbed Divorce Day, as law firms prepare for a flood of cases after 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 brings a surge, but 2025 started with unprecedented demand.
“In fact, it is true that we have had difficulty keeping up with the increase in enrollment, but we have a team working around the clock to keep everything running smoothly.”
Jessica has also dubbed today “Relationship Blue Monday” due to the increase in breakups.
A new member of Illicit Encounters, from Brighton, has 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, and the trend is expected to increase even further as the week (file image).
The 38-year-old said she was feeling disillusioned after years of feeling invisible in her marriage.
“It was not an impulsive decision.
“I’ve been unhappy for a long time and after the Christmas holidays I realized I couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine,” she said.
‘I joined in the hope of finding someone who sees me, someone who will bring joy back into my life.
“It’s not just about physical intimacy, although that’s important, but also about feeling loved and valued again.”
Jessica added that the post-holiday period often exacerbates tensions in relationships.
“People spend weeks in close quarters during the holiday season, which can highlight existing cracks,” he said.
“January feels like a new beginning, and for some, that means exploring new connections, even outside of your relationship.”
Relationship experts warn that more people are likely to start having an affair today than at any other time of the year (file image)
Meanwhile, the first working Monday in January has also long had the grim nickname “Divorce Day” and Stowe Family Law revealed they are preparing for a flood of inquiries.
Stowe launched a nationwide survey to analyze the infamous “Divorce Day” and the results found that women’s biggest regret about divorce is not starting the proceedings sooner.
80 percent of women surveyed wish they had not stayed in their marriage so long, compared to 42 percent of men.
The results also revealed that 87 percent of women initiated or made the mutual decision to divorce, 54 percent cited the key reasons as the couple had grown apart and wanted different things, 30 percent said adultery, 24 percent said there was domestic abuse and 16 percent cited financial problems. reasons.
Meanwhile, only 11 percent of women regretted their decision to divorce, and 43 percent said divorce was the healthiest thing to do.
Filomena Sterkaj, partner at Stowe Family Law, said: ‘I’m not surprised that women’s biggest regret about getting divorced is not having done it sooner. It is very common among my clients that they have initiated a divorce, since they have simply reached the end of their strength.
‘The breakup is often not about a big event or explosion, and can come from either party or be a mutual decision.
‘Holidays like Christmas can magnify how separate a couple’s lives have become, making the decision inevitable.
‘Usually, people have been waiting a long time to start the divorce and wait for the holidays to pass before starting again.
‘However, while the so-called ‘Divorce Day’ may be a catalyst for people to phone a family law firm, it is important that they are aware of the long-term impact of divorce, including the financial implications.
“Getting early legal advice from an expert family lawyer (most of whom offer a free initial consultation) will give people an idea of what divorce could mean for them and their families before they begin the process.”
“Interestingly, the survey also revealed that women are much less willing to remarry: 50 percent reject another trip to the altar, compared to just a quarter of divorced men.”