If boredom and sameness are the enemy of passion, then, thanks to lockdown, many of us in longterm relationships may now be living through a prolonged period of near celibacy. Nor are homeschooling and working from home in a tracksuit exactly the stuff of romantic fantasy. Stuck in our own version of Groundhog Day and with the kids constantly present, our home lives have changed dramatically and the impact on couples is huge.
Worldwide, there's been an explosion in the number of couples seeking relationship counselling. A survey conducted by the UK charity Relate last year found that nearly a quarter of people felt lockdown had placed additional pressure on their relationship. A similar proportion had found their partner more irritating - with women reporting this more than men.