In the last couple of weeks, two relationships with enormous age gaps have caught the nation's attention.
The first was Stephen Fry's engagement to Elliott Spencer, who is 30 years younger than him - the happy couple are now married after signing the civil register in Dereham, Norfolk.
The second was the news that Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page was dating a woman 46 years his junior.
But why do age gaps continue to shock? Older men dating women in their twenties has been happening for centuries.
Stephen Fry, 57, and his partner, stand-up comedian Elliott Spencer, 27. The pair, who have a 30 year age difference, got married yesterday afternoon in Norfolk. They are one of several Hollywood romances that features an age gap spanning generations and the difference in maturity has sparked enormous interest from the British public. But why do age gap romances continue to be such a source of fascination, given that they have been happening for centuries?
But each time an older man steps out with a young woman, or more recently the reverse, the nation makes a collective gasp.
Demi Moore married Ashton Kutcher, who was 15 years her junior, and the couple stayed together for several years, but the public were never quite able to get to grips with the romance.
Caroline Flack's fling with Harry Styles caused such disgust that for a time it almost looked like it would derail her career.
And Madonna's love of toyboys in recent years has almost overshadowed her musical career.
In Hollywood alone, there have been numerous romances between women and men of different generations in the last yen years alone.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, 71, and his 25-year-old actress girlfriend Scarlett Sabet. The pair, who have a 46 year age gap, celebrated his birthday at Nando's this week
So why do some men and women go for someone much older or younger instead or a person their own age?
Sex therapist Louise Van De Velde says it's a cliche, but age is nothing but a number.
She explained to FEMAIL: 'In case you haven't noticed, we feel the same as we get older as we did when we were young, on the inside at least - it's only when we look in the mirror we see the signs of ageing.
'Psychologically, having a trophy wife on your arm gives the same effect as flash cars and watches - admiration and significance, it's almost as if having this young partner quantifies how successful they are.'
But although she understands the reasons for wanting a younger woman or man on your arm, Louise warns that there are several cons to an age gap relationship.
She said: 'This difference in age creates many problems as interests do change with age, as do energy levels.
'It is well known that men and women reach their sexual peak at a different ages (men early 20s women late 30s early 40s), so while a young toy boy may well be able to satisfy an older woman an older man may leave his younger wife feeling unfulfilled.
'This is not something to be overlooked - sex is key to all successful relationships as it clears blocks and maintains connection.
'However, if the partners can embrace the differences, then maturity can be a good balance for the immaturity and the youthful enthusiasm can keep the older partner young.'
Friends of Stephen Fry say that his relationship with Elliott Spencer has made him happier than he has been in years
According to new research by dating website EliteSingles, the stereotype of the older man seeking an increasingly younger partner does in fact ring true.
Men aged 60-69 set, on average, a desired partner age of up to 11 years younger than themselves, while the oldest they would accept is someone just 1 year older.
But younger men buck the trend, with those aged up to 30 preferring to date someone older than younger. Between the ages of 20-29, many men indicate a preference for a partner 3-6 years older than themselves.
The website's psychologist Sam Owen believes that men aged 20-29 now looking for older women pver a younger model is largely down to the change in gender roles in modern society, with far more equality between the sexes nowadays.
He said: 'Young men nowadays probably recognise that older women are adept at diligently juggling so many responsibilities like a career, children, housekeeping, fitness, finances and socialising.
'This makes them intriguing, attractive and a more secure option.'
Would you date a much older (or younger) man? Femail looks at the Hollywood starlets who did:
Olivier Sarkozy, 45, with his partner Mary-Kate Olsen, 28. The couple have 17 years between them
Dominic Purcell, 44, and AnnaLynne McCord, 27. The pair, who have a 17 year age gap, split December 2014
Bennett Miller, 47, and partner Ashley Olsen Ashley Olsen, 28, out and about go grocery shopping
Evan Rachel Wood and Marilyn Manson in 2007. She was 19 and he 36 - 17 years difference - when they dated
Sean Penn, 54, and Charlize Theron, 39, pictured in July 2014. The pair, who have 15 years between them, have been dating for 14 months
Jay-Z, 45, and his wife Beyonce, 33. The couple are still going strong after 13 years - and have a 12 year age gap
Actor Bradley Cooper, 40, sits with his girlfriend Suki Waterhouse, 23, at Wimbledon. The pair, who have a 17 year age gap, have been dating for two years
Michael Douglas, 70, and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, 45. The couple have been together for 15 years and have 25 years between them
Alec Baldwin, 56, met Hilaria Thomas, 30, in 2011. The couple are now married and have a one year old daughter called Carmen and recently announced that they are expecting their second child together
Actress Amber Heard, 28, and her fiance, actor Johnny Depp, 51. The couple announced their engagement in December 2013
Actress Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher pictured when they were dating. He was 25 and Demi 41 when they met in 2003. Despite the 16 year age difference, the pair stayed together until 2011
Ronnie Wood, 67, started dating theatre company owner Sally Humphreys, 36, in 2012 and the couple were married in December of that year. The couple have a 31 year age gap
Bruce Willis, 59, with wife Emma Heming, 36. The pair have been married for six years
Caroline Flack, who is 35, briefly dated Harry Styles three years ago - when he was just 17
Actors Annette Bening, left, and Warren Beatty in 2004. He's now 77 and she 56. Despite a 22 year age gap they've been married for 23 years
Prince Albert with then-girlfriend Charlene Wittstock. The pair have a 20 year age gap and have been married for four years. She is 36 and he is 56 years old
Zoe Buckman, 29, and her partner David Schwimmer, 48. They have a 19 year age gap and have been married for five years
Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart watch the Rio carnival in 2012. They started dating in 2011 when Casper was just 24 and Jennifer was 42 - that's an 18 year age gap. The pair split in 2014
Tom Cruise, now 53, and Katie Holmes, now 36, pictured in 2005. They had a 17 year age gap and were married for six years from 2006-2012
Sam Taylor-Johnson, 47, with husband Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 24. The pair, who have 23 years between them, met on the set of Nowhere Boy in 2008. They have been married for three years and have two daughters, Wylda Rae and Romy Hero
Jason Statham, 47, and model girlfriend Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 27. Despite a 20 year difference they've been going strong for five years
Harrison Ford, 72, and his wife Calista Flockhart, 50, pictured in 2008. They've been dating since 2002 and married 2010. The couple have a 22 year age gap
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