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It often surprises me that I'm still single. But rather than try to change that the old-fashioned way - getting out more, meeting people, that sort of thing - I've had a go at it the 21st-century way, checking out the latest in internet dating sites. After all, you soon discover that most people on these sites are quite normal, successful people - just really busy and a bit tired of trying to pick up strangers in a bar with Snow Patrol making your ears bleed. It's been quite fun; I've met some nice girls, picked up one stalker (I'm one step away from calling the police), but I'm still on the market... just in case you were wondering.
1. DatingDirect.com
WLTM: Dating Direct claims a staggering 4 million members out of the 15 million singles in the UK, meaning more than one in four of us is signed up - so you should never run out of potential dates.
Turn-ons: Easy to navigate. You can also add a voice greeting to your profile - which can tell you a lot about someone - and get SMS messages whenever someone sends you an email on the site.
Turn-offs: These are the only non-basic functions on the site and you don't even get to see who has viewed you.
GSOH: It only takes five minutes to set up. You get to put up three photos.
Cheap date? £25 for one month; £60 for six months.
2. Beautifulpeople.net
WLTM: Body fascism at its best. To get onto BP you have to apply with a photo and profile to be voted on by the existing, gorgeous users.
Turn-ons: Look, everyone really is gorgeous. It's also a surprisingly friendly community, with plenty of house and Christmas parties planned. Good chat rooms, instant messaging etc. And being pretty doesn't melt your brain - although half are models, there are also doctors, a horse stunt girl and a Cambridge don on the site.
Turn-offs: The three-day period when you can track the votes going for or against your application. Being rejected can't be nice.
GSOH: Takes three days to be approved.
Cheap date? £15 for one month; £40 for six months.
3. Match.com
WLTM: The snazziest-looking site is American in origin, which means that most of the options are Americanised, which can be annoying.
Turn-ons: Lots of free text boxes where you write your likes and dislikes, rather than just ticking whether you like pizza. There is advice all the way. You can put up 26 photos, which is great because you can show something of your life as well as your looks, but the best thing is that it actively matches you with other people based on your likes and dislikes.
Turn-offs: How many people in this country are putting 'baseball' as their favourite pastime?
GSOH: It takes 40 minutes to set up (mostly uploading pictures).
Cheap date? £70 for six months.
4. Mysinglefriend.com
WLTM: The love-child of television-property guru Sarah Beeny, this site's interesting hook is that you are pimped - sorry, nominated - by a friend who writes your description, to which you then have a chance to respond. My friend Penny began by describing me as 'tactless', so thanks a bunch, Pen.
Turn-ons: Very simple to navigate and looks nice. Unlike some other sites, it promises not to automatically renew your subscription without your approval.
Turn-offs: You can't see who has looked at your page, which is a pity.
GSOH: Takes about 20 minutes to set up - and then you have to wait for your 'friend' to describe you as tactless.
Cheap date? £20 for four months.
5. Speeddater.co.uk
WLTM: The site has links to live events (and bingo) which encourages you to meet new people face to face.
Turn-ons: You can see who has been looking at your page, which is handy, and it has one of the best search facilities, allowing you to search in a few different ways, from geographical proximity to keywords in the profile, such as mention of your favourite film or Italian Renaissance herbalist. It also has a webcam-enabled chatroom.
Turn-offs: The mail isn't all that user-friendly.
GSOH: It takes only 20 minutes to set up a profile. You can put up three photographs.
Cheap date? £18 for one month; £54 for six months.
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