Gogglebox’s Daniel Lustig reveals why ‘inappropriate’ new romance didn’t work out after shock marriage split
GOGGLEBOX star Daniel Lustig has said it’s ‘a shame’ a recent romance didn’t work out, and revealed his reason why.
The 49-year-old is back looking for love after his split from ex Stephen, following 11 years together.
And the Gogglebox favourite has taken to the apps, where’s he had success, including one date which he enjoyed at Brighton’s Soho House.
But it was the 18-year age gap that Daniel just couldn’t get on board with.
Opening up about the date, Daniel, who is 49, told The Sun: “There was a really lovely guy, he was 31 so really young.
“We went on a date at Soho House in Brighton. And that was really lovely. But when he was there I just realised, you know, he was too young for me.”
Daniel continued: “He was lovely and sprightly and excitable, and he had an amazing job as a writer.
“And he was also just so interesting as a person.
“But I thought maybe if I was 31 or 35 even then t would have been perfect.
“It’s a shame but he’s 31, and let’s day we got together for 20 years – he’d be 51 which is practically what I am now, and I’ll be like 70.”
Daniel playfully added: “I’d be like ‘hand me the crutches.’”
The TV favourite explained that their decision not to meet up again was “a little bit mutual.”
“We had a really nice day, and we had a cocktail and dinner but then we kind of said goodbye to each other and I think we messaged saying we had a really good time, thank you very much, but that was it.
“Obviously if he’d then started trying to message me back or something, I’d have definitely had to have the conversation about where I stood with things.”
But his age gap romance to one side, Daniel has been dating other people.
Gogglebox stars Stephen and Daniel's relationship timeline
Hairdressing duo Stephen Webb and Daniel Lustig got engaged back in 2016 and married two years later.
The couple co-own a hair salon and live in a £575,000 property on Brighton’s sought after seafront.
At the time of the engagement, Stephen appeared on Gogglebox alongside his ex-boyfriend Chris Ashby-Steed.
In 2019, Daniel made his Gogglebox debut and was immediately a big hit.
Chris, who is now in a happy relationship with husband Tony, spoke publicly about how the show affected his mental health.
Having relocated to Wales and quit showbiz, Chris said he was racked with anxiety during his time on the programme.
Just last year Daniel and Stephen shocked Gogglebox fans when they announced they were leaving the programme. Daniel had been part of the show since its launch in 2013.
Their departure opened up a new world of opportunity for the duo and it was soon announced that Stephen would take part in Dancing on Ice. But disaster struck and injury ruled him out before the live shows.
There were further gasps of shock in April when we revealed the pair had split up. They vowed to remain friends and looked to be true to their word, sharing a smiley picture the following day with Stephen’s mum on the seafront.
He said: “I was dating someone – if you can even call it that – we went on four dates in London, and it was really fun.
“But that was literally the first guy I dated since the split, so it was a bit of a learning curve.
“We were very similar in age though, we had a lot in common, it was very nice and we had a lot of fun.”
But Daniel admits that things between the two of them “dried up” romantically.
The 49-year-old, who said he’d be more than keen to give Celebs Go Dating a go, said people haven’t really clocked on to his Gogglebox fame.
Asked if he was worried people would swipe right because they’d seen him on the show, Daniel shared: “The people I have chatted to or met haven’t mentioned it on the first or second date, and if they sort of slip it in, I think ‘Oh, that’s quite cool.’ You know what I mean. I don’t want dating to be like an interview.”
And the single star is trying his hardest not to be picky on his dating quest, sometimes unsuccessfully.
Daniel added: “I’ve been quite open, actually, because in the past I’d be like ‘they must be this age, ‘they must look like this. But now my age bracket is more open than it used to be. So that’s interesting.
“To be honest, I’m not too picky but then when I meet them I can really be picky.
“I also don’t like all the texting on the apps, I don’t want a pen friend!”
And the show favourite shared that anyone he dates will also have to accept that he and ex Stephen are still good friends.
Daniel playfully added: “It’s something people will just have to put up with. We’re business partners and also dog daddy’s as we share a dog together.
“When I met Stephen I was still pals with my ex, and he took that on the chin.
“You don’t have to be really good friends with these people but you have to respect it. It’s some Louis Vuitton baggage!”
Daniel doesn’t want to “live on the apps” when it comes to meeting someone knew, instead saying he prefers a more traditional way of going about things.
“I’d like to meet someone out, strolling along the beach with my dog or in a bar, like how it used to be.
“If a friend set me up on a date I’d have to put the parameters out there, and if they got it wrong I’d probably never speak to my friend again!”
Despite Daniel’s hunt for romance, the star is busy juggling owning two hair salon businesses, alongside a life in the spotlight as a TV personality.
He’s recently appeared on The Weakest Link, and shares his desire to one day take to the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor, but “doesn’t feel famous at all.”
Daniel added: “If we’re not filming anything or doing anything like life is just the same as everyone elses.
“I’m going out on the beach picking up the dog poo in the rain. I’ve got to run to get in my car quickly to get to work so I’m not late, you know, living the same life as everyone else.”
And on a Gogglebox return? Well, Daniel says “never say never.”