CELEBS Go Dating sexpert Dr Tara has waded into the show’s age gap row after Stephen Webb picked to date a man 30 years his junior.
Viewers have expressed concern after Gogglebox star Stephen, 53, made a beeline for 22-year-old Ben.
Even Dr Tara’s fellow expect, Paul Brunson, has revealed his concerns over Stephen’s “fixation” on younger men.
But Dr Tara isn’t worried, telling The Sun: “Age Gap relationships are becoming more common and more accepted in society, as we have seen in a bunch of movies this year of older females and younger males.
“And when we say younger, it’s legal age, right? It’s not like super teenagers. Everything is always done consensually, and you know, of course, with enthusiasm.”
She continued: “So for us, if it was like, you know him asking Ben like, ‘Do you want to go on a date?’ like Ben could have said, ‘No’, if he was like, ‘you’re too old for me’.
“But he enthusiastically participated. So we just think, you know, if it’s a great match, we don’t discriminate against age gap relationships.”
Stephen joined the dating agency following his split from husband Daniel earlier this year – after 11 years together.
During the masquerade ball he asked three men out on a date, all of whom were younger than him.
Speaking to The Sun earlier this week, expert Paul admitted:”Stephen was the most concerning to me. He was fixated on matching with someone much younger than him.
“I’ve been doing this a long time and 10 out of 10 times when someone has a specific type who is 25 or 30 years younger… they either have very low self-esteem or they desire to be in a relationship they control.”
He added: “To me it’s someone searching for the validation of others. Trying to find a younger person to recapture his youth and wanting the world to see him as young. Self-esteem wise it’s alarming.”