A survey of romantic novelists – 58 of them – has found that far from the tall dark and handsome cliché, the most important traits in a man are loyalty (91% picked this as essential in their perfect man), honesty (89%) and personal hygiene (88%). Height and good looks only garnered 60% apiece, and despite the proliferation of Mills & Boons about Italian billionaire princes (seriously, just look how many there are!) and Greek shipping tycoons, the novelists themselves actually put wealth and social standing low on the list of important qualities in a man.

The Festival of Romance is now asking women to take the survey themselves, in the hope of creating a picture of the nation's perfect man. "The Festival is calling on the nation's women to let the novelists know what they think makes the perfect man," says Kate Allan, "chief romantic" at the Festival of Romance. "This vital poll could change the way that romantic novels are written."

Bring it on, I say; roll out the deodorant-wearing, flossing heroes we've all been waiting for. "When she saw him across the crowded room, Alison knew he was the man for her. Loyal and honest, he was her perfect match – not least because he clearly maintained a high level of personal hygiene." It might be my dream to write a Mills & Boon, but I am not sure that is quite going to cut it.