If you've given up hope of dating the man or woman of your dreams, then don't despair - scientists may have come up with a solution.
Because according to research, even the plainest Jane or the most ordinary of Olivers can attract a much better-looking partner, as long as they are friends with them first.
A study carried out at the University of Austin in Texas found that being in the dreaded "friend zone" with someone out of your league actually makes them more likely to fall for you.
Researchers assessed the looks of people in couples - rating them between -3 "very unattractive" to +3 "very attractive".
They found that good-looking people tended to go out with equally beautiful partners. But when there was a big difference between their looks, they discovered the common theme was that the couple had been good friends before they started going out.
