New research shows that 71% of Brits have no issue with their being an age gap in a relationships as long as certain conditions are met.Tommy Joyce13:44, 14 Jul 2026Brits are happy with a six-year age difference when dating, new research suggests. A poll of 2,000 adults found 71% don’t mind a big age gap, as long as both people are at a similar level of maturity and want the same things in life. More than half even said an age gap of 10 to 20 years is fine.‌According the research, one in five would rather date someone older. That included 32% of women and 8% of men. However, men were more likely to prefer a younger partner (33%) than someone the same age (21%).‌People who prefer older partners said they like emotional maturity, stability and confidence. Those who prefer younger partners said it’s about looks, more energy and being more fun and spontaneous.‌Lee Mason, vice president of Scripted, Disney+ EMEA and the commissioner of the new show Alice and Steve, which explores an age-gap relationship that challenges expectations, said: "Our research highlights just how complex relationships are, and how easy it is to rely on assumptions until we're faced with real situations.""While people may have concerns about age-gap relationships or pass judgement, " he said, "it's fascinating to see how many would consider being in one and how people are ultimately focused on shared values, life goals and emotional compatibility.‌"Attitudes are also continuing to evolve, with many people becoming more open-minded about age-gap partnerships as they get older and gain more life experience."The research found 47% think people are becoming more accepting of age-gap relationships.‌Over all, a quarter said they’ve become more open to them as they’ve got older. Meanwhile, 28% said TV and films have made them see age-gap relationships more positively. This was higher among Gen Z (46%) than Boomers (10%), according to OnePoll.com.There were still some concerns. The biggest worries were having different lifestyles and a possible power imbalance. Around 9% said they’d be put off if the person had a link to a friend or family member.But 14% said they’d feel more positive if a close friend or relative already knew the person, and 33% said that would make them more open-minded.Article continues belowLee Mason added: "For most people, a successful relationship is about far more than age alone. In making the show, we wanted to explore the ways in which different generations react to age gap relationships and how it affects family, friendship and the relationship itself."Intergenerational relationships are still the focus of much debate and differing opinions. But it's interesting that many adults believe compatibility, maturity and shared goals matter much more than the number of years between partners. ".