Fred Sirieix was moved to tears after staff at a luxury hotel in Singapore surprised him with a personal Father's Day gesture while he was filming his new travel series. The First Dates star was staying at the iconic Raffles Hotel Singapore when the hotel team arranged the touching surprise.
Unexpected Father's Day surprise
Speaking about the moment, Fred admitted he was completely caught off guard when he returned to his room and discovered a card waiting for him. “I arrived there on Father's Day on the 21st of June,” he explained. “My concierge picked some pictures off the internet of my kids. They used AI to mock up a card to say happy Father's Day. ‘We love you’, blah, blah, blah, and he put it in my room.”
The gesture proved too much for Fred, who immediately became emotional. “Wow. Oh my God, I knew my kids are everything for me and I just saw that card there,” he said. “It was just on Father's Day. I cried.”
Fred's family and the iconic hotel
Fred has two children with his former partner Alessandra Spendolini – daughter Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, a professional Team GB diver who won a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and was named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2020, and son Lucien, who stays away from the spotlight.
The emotional moment came during Fred's stay at Raffles, one of Singapore's best-known hotels, which has become synonymous with the city since opening its doors in the 19th century. The hotel is famed for its colonial architecture, luxurious suites and its connection to the Singapore Sling cocktail, which was created at its Long Bar. It has 115 suites spread across nine categories, with no standard hotel rooms, while its Presidential Suite costs around £12,000 per night.
Experiences in Singapore
During his time in Singapore, Fred also took part in a number of experiences as part of the new series. His adventures included a sidecar tour, a visit to the city's Botanic Gardens and a trip to a hawker centre, where he explored Singapore's famous food culture. He also learned Tai Chi from a master at Raffles before heading out on a yacht experience around Sentosa.
The Botanic Gardens provided another glimpse into Singapore's unique landscape, with the city being one of the few places in the world where primary rainforest can be found within its city limits. The trip forms part of Fred's Ultimate Hotels, in which the television personality explores some of the world's most remarkable hotels while getting to know the destinations and cultures surrounding them.
Despite the luxury and extraordinary experiences on offer, it was the simple Father's Day gesture that left the biggest impression on Fred. Fred's Ultimate Hotels airs on Monday, August 31 at 8pm on Channel 4.
