Fred Sirieix to star in three cheesy rom com parodies this Christmas

It's time to get cheesy

The maître d'hôtel has recreated scenes from the three films Brits voted as the nation’s favourite festive rom-coms – Love Actually (22 per cent), The Holiday (12 per cent), and Bridget Jones’s Diary (seven per cent).

Research of 2,000 adults also asked what the most romantic festive movie moment of all time was, with the cue-card scene from Love Actually and Bridget and Mark’s snowy kiss in Bridget Jones’s Diary taking joint first place.

Inspired by these results, the playful “From Com” series, Fred’s homage to fromage, puts his favourite French cheese, Boursin, at the heart of the romance as he re-creates iconic scenes – from the famous cue cards to Amanda’s return in The Holiday and Bridget’s first encounter with Mark.

Commenting on his acting debut, Fred said: “Re-creating these iconic scenes was such a joy – because, for me, Christmas is all about romance, laughter, and gathering around great food.

"Whether it’s a small gesture or a grand declaration of love, the magic happens when we come together and share something delicious.

“There are a few things for me that are truly unmissable at Christmas: love, good company, and a cheeseboard.

“When the cooking is done and everyone is cosy with a film, that’s when the French way takes over: simple pleasures, indulgent flavours, and moments made to be shared. C’est ça, Noël.”

Speaking on set, the gastronome revealed that many of his Christmas traditions are food and drink-related, but while 48 per cent of Brits voted Christmas Day dinner as the nation’s most cherished tradition, a ‘plateau de fromage’ is his non-negotiable festive moment.

That said, over a quarter (27 per cent) like to share a cheese board with the family to conclude the evening, according to the OnePoll.com data.

And when it comes to setting the mood while hosting, Fred revealed his go-to festive singalong is ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ - which the nation ranked among its favourites, coming third behind ‘Fairytale of New York’ and Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’.

A spokesperson for Boursin cheese said: “Our research shows that food and film are two of the UK’s most cherished Christmas traditions.

“So, this year we wanted to bring them together in a fresh, playful way, celebrating those little festive rituals that feel truly unmissable, like sharing an indulgent cheese board with the people you love.”

And although in Fred’s native France, Christmas Eve is the most important day during this period, only 17 per cent of Brits agreed – with Christmas Day still reigning supreme for 46 per cent.

The top three festive foods were voted as turkey (33 per cent), pigs in blankets (30 per cent), and mince pies (19 per cent).

Following sitting down to dinner, sweet treats were the favourite festive moments of the day, with 10 per cent cherishing the excuse to eat these throughout the entire day and eight per cent waiting for the unmistakable sound of the chocolate tin opening.

Nearly four in 10 (38 per cent) also preferred hosting the day in their own homes – as they get to have everyone they love visit at the same time (43 per cent) and enjoy the food they put their heart and soul into preparing (36 per cent).

And when asked their top tip for hosting, notable responses included ‘always make every meal with love’ and ‘do as much as possible beforehand so that you can enjoy the whole Christmas experience’.

Which Fred concurred with as he added: “The festive season is about spending time with your guests, not in the kitchen.

“One of my top tips is to do as much preparation as you can – lean into casual French luxury: a few aperitifs, some charcuterie, olives, mini quiches, maybe even a couple of gougères.

“Use flavourful ingredients like Boursin to turn something simple into something special.

“You can prep it all ahead, lay it out beautifully, and then just relax and enjoy.

"That’s the French way, celebration without the stress.”