The Five Men Every Woman Should Date

I know, I know, once you start on a list of this sort there's no stopping the flow, but we've tried to keep this to just five of the most desirable examples of the male species who you might just want to snag before you hit 40. After all, if you're working your way through this list after the big 4-0 just keep right on going till you hit the Top 10, lady!


Prince Charming

Everyone should go out with someone their mother likes just once. Not necessarily because mother knows best, but rather because it makes life so much less hassle. It provides an awesome excuse for anything you know she disapproved of and is likely to put a swift stop to endless phone calls you get on a daily basis asking whether you really are making the best of your degree working in a rock bar, or whether you are eating enough veg or getting enough sleep at night.

Said mother can be satisfied in the knowledge all simply MUST be okay in your world because you have won the heart of a prince. And, no, not even a real prince (though few mothers would complain were that to happen) but a nice polite young man who is articulate and intelligent and knows how to take care of their little one.

Oh, and he's probably fairly well off with a promising, respectable job and a nice family boy as well. Which, even if the lad is as dull as proverbial dishwater, does mean you're likely to be called on time, bought flowers and not about to be hideously and painfully dumped or cheated on anytime soon. Bargain. Hell, you don't need to marry him, holiday with him or sleep with him - just enjoy being treated like a princess for a while.

The Latin Lover

Picture it. You're dancing merrily away in a club when you decide you quite fancy a drink and amble to the nearest bar. You're pushing through the crowds when, quite suddenly, the bodies part and an arm wraps itself round you and pulls you into the protective cloud of built Venezuelan biceps and gently swaying hips. Add to that a charming grin and mischievous melodic strains heavily-accented English and you know you've scored.

Face it, the average Latin male not only actually enjoys a dance but is blessed with that glorious natural ability to move well AND make you look like a star when you join him! Walking into a room with a tall, tanned and exotic-looking creature on your arm and you're guaranteed to be the envy of the room, and even if you know he's unlikely to stay yours for long, the attention he offers as he tucks your hair behind your ear and mentions, yet again, how beautiful you look tonight means that, quite frankly, living in the moment has never been better. All this, and we all know the Latin culture was born to take advantage of truly great nightlife...


A Bit Of Rough

What is it about the likes of the skinny but obviously macho Robert Carlisle in The Full Monty, the scruffy but failing guitarist in the student uni bar and the practically mute but heroic emergency plumber that has us all weak at the knees?

Is it the apparent layer of mystery, that quiet masculinity, or just the utter simplicity of these men that provides the ingredient that's so hypnotic to most women at some point in their lives? It's hard to say, but curiously it's a quality that never makes it into tacky porn movies involving the hapless builder and his tools.

Possibly it’s the very something about these fairly average strangely alluring guys that makes them accessible enough to think you stand a chance, yet sexy enough to want to take them home and claim them as your own. They'll never be introduced to the parents, never entertain a large crowd of your mates and certainly never cook a dinner more complex than a crisp sandwich...but damn it, you've claimed them as yours (you come second to their love of football and lad's nights, mind). You just know that when the chips are down, they'll tumble into bed at night, probably enjoy a good pint after a frustrating day and will definitely protect you in a row.


The Virgin or the Shrew?

So the world belongs to the young, right? Oh, come now, like you've never considered it. Be it the wide-eyed innocence of youth or the believer in ‘no sex before a ring‘, there's a certain pride it would give you to be the one winning this particular rare breed of boy over.

Admittedly, there is the learning curve to consider, yes, the and patience, the chaos and the care...but holding someone who's never been held quite that close or persuading someone to give in to their very first carnal desires (cue: whip) is a pretty epic achievement for your average lovely lady. After all, it's not just guys who put mental notches on the bedpost.

Or on the flipside, maybe it's the pull of experience that draws you? The whiskers of knowledge and the elder man's sly gaze is not a bad route to take if you're bored of teaching your partner that someone else exists beneath the sheets. Plus, in Lily Allen's opinion there's a lot to be said for a man who is old enough not to regard you as a threat (be it in fame, wealth or beauty, all of which she enviably specialises in). And she may have a point.

It's a little like putting yourself in the hands of a doctor (hmm, now we're moving onto ideal date numbers 6, 7 and 8...) in that surely he's seen it all! Easy - now where he leads you just follow. And in the meantime, please enjoy some fine wine and maybe a spin in the Sunseeker.


Lifestyles of the Rich, Successful and Famous

There is nothing, but nothing, like having a song dedicated to you from the headline stage of a crowded festival. There is also a great deal to be said about getting to this high-demand festival for free and being armed with killer hotel room hair and a shiny VIP pass while you're at it. And as for skipping queues and sorting out guestlist places to clubs your mates only read about...

Ah, yes, the singer / DJ / footballer / CEO grade of 'love' is the way forward. Not so hotly contested as far as the promise of a wedding veil goes, this particular playboy offers enough by providing either unrivalled arm candy or such riches he can pay others to pretend this is the case.

He may not have all that much time to spend with you, but the waves of free fun and debauchery you can share while the ride lasts will provide enough stories for several decades of grandchildren and enough pre-40 boxes ticked off to guarantee you'll be content to settle for Mr Nice Guy. I mean, you can't hit the high road till you've rocked the L Plates, right?