In small groups students try to make suitable couples from the following celebrities:

• Kylie Minogue
• Geri Halliwell
• Britney Spears
• Nicole Kidman
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor
• Robbie Williams
• Tom Cruise
• Michael Jackson
• Michael Owen
• Justin Timberlake

Do they have similar personalities and interests?

If none are suitable, can they think of another celebrity who would be and why?

Extension activity
Can the class agree on what they think are the most important things in a marriage?

Plenary
Students present their decisions from the celebrity matchmaker task and give their reasons.

Teachers' Background

• Research carried out by agency One Plus One found the most common source of difficulties for couples included money, housework, communication, sex, children and balancing work and home life.

• The National Family and Parenting Institute (NFPI) estimates that two in five marriages in the UK ends in divorce - one of the highest rates in Europe.

• The average length of a marriage fell from 37 years in 1980 to 24 in 1994 according to the NFPI.

• But marriage is still a popular institution in the UK, with 95% of women and 91% of men having been married by the age of 50.

• Use a 'show of hands' to make the decisions over which matches would be best.

• Ask for volunteers to share their points of view over celebrity couples.