Television personality and maître d'hôtel Fred Sirieix is swapping the dining room for the film set this festive season, starring in a playful series of 'cheesy' romantic comedy parodies. The project, titled "From Com" as a homage to fromage, brings together his two great festive loves: food and romance.
Recreating Britain's Favourite Festive Moments
Inspired by research, Sirieix has recreated iconic scenes from the three films voted by Brits as the nation's favourite festive rom-coms. The top film was Love Actually (22%), followed by The Holiday (12%) and Bridget Jones’s Diary (7%). The survey of 2,000 adults, conducted by OnePoll.com, also found the most romantic movie moment was a tie between the cue-card scene from Love Actually and Bridget and Mark's snowy kiss in Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Fred's parodies put his favourite French cheese, Boursin, at the heart of the action. He steps into famous scenes, from holding up handwritten cue cards to Amanda's dramatic return in The Holiday and Bridget's first encounter with Mark Darcy.
Food, Film and Festive Traditions
Commenting on the project, Fred Sirieix said: "Re-creating these iconic scenes was such a joy – because, for me, Christmas is all about romance, laughter, and gathering around great food." He emphasised that the magic of the season lies in sharing simple pleasures and indulgent flavours.
The research delved into the nation's Christmas habits, revealing that while 48% of Brits cherish the Christmas Day dinner most, Fred's non-negotiable tradition is a 'plateau de fromage'. This sentiment is shared by many, with over a quarter (27%) of respondents enjoying a family cheese board to end the evening.
When it comes to setting the mood, Fred revealed his go-to festive singalong is Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'. The nation ranked this third in their favourites, behind 'Fairytale of New York' and Wham!'s 'Last Christmas'.
Celebrating the French Way at Christmas
Despite Fred's French heritage, where Christmas Eve is paramount, the survey confirmed Christmas Day still reigns supreme for 46% of Brits, with only 17% prioritising Christmas Eve. The top three festive foods were turkey (33%), pigs in blankets (30%), and mince pies (19%).
Fred shared his hosting philosophy, advising: "The festive season is about spending time with your guests, not in the kitchen." He recommends extensive preparation, embracing casual French luxury with aperitifs, charcuterie, and flavourful ingredients like Boursin to create special moments without stress.
A spokesperson for Boursin 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." The campaign celebrates those unmissable festive rituals, like sharing an indulgent cheese board with loved ones.
