James Buckley publicly shamed by his wife Clair as he books Valentine's Day meal for two with good pal, leaving her home alone for the night

James Buckley has been shamed by his wife for booking a Valentine’s Day meal at their favourite restaurant – with a pal.

The actor, 36, decided to head out with a good friend rather than his spouse Clair, 35, on the big day, leaving her miffed.

Clair, who married James in 2012, posed as an upset listener writing into their In Sickness and in Health podcast to embarrass the Inbetweeners star for booking a Valentine’s meal for two with his mate.

James read out the message – not realising it was from Clair – after she was shocked to be let down when she found out the dinner reservation was for him and his friend Chris.

The TV star only twigged he’d been set up as he was reading out Clair’s agony aunt style moan seeking advice on the relationship.

James Buckley has been shamed by his wife for booking a Valentine’s Day meal at their favourite restaurant – with a pal (James pictured last month)

The actor, 36, decided to head out with a good friend rather than his spouse Clair, 35, on the big day, leaving her miffed (James and Clair pictured in May 2022)

He read: ‘My husband and I have been together for almost 14 years, and although we’ve never made a big deal of Valentine’s Day,’ before pausing to unwittingly point out to Clair the similarity to their relationship: ‘We’ve never done anything for Valentine’s Day.’

He continued: ‘This year he has booked what I can only describe as a romantic meal for two – a table at his favourite restaurant – that I love too, at 6pm on the 14th of February.

‘When I asked him about it, as it popped up in our shared calendar, he informed me that this booking was for him and his friend Chris. Should I be annoyed/worried?’

The penny then dropped for James – who has sons Harrison, 12, and Jude, 10, with Clair – and he began laughing, and said: ‘I was reading this and I was like “Oh, 14 years”, “shared calendar”, I was about to go “we share our calendar, don’t we”?’

Clair said: ‘This is a true story. On our shared calendar on the phone pops up meal at James’s favourite curry house, and I thought, “Ah lovely, 6pm, Valentine’s night”.

‘Then he proceeds to come down the stairs, saying, “By the way, you don’t mind if I go out with Chris Valentine’s Day, do you”?’

James, trying to explain himself, said: ‘I’ve only got about three friends and he’s one of them, and that was the day we were both free.

‘So I’ll be spending my Valentine’s Day with Chris – and there’ll be loads of couples around us.’

Clair, who married James in 2012, posed as an upset listener writing into their podcast to embarrass the Inbetweeners star for booking a Valentine’s meal for two with his mate (James and Clair pictured in August last year)

Clair said: ‘So I’ll be at home – I don’t know, might wash my hair or something. I’ll still be doing this f**king washing.

‘We didn’t even do Valentine’s Day when we were first going out.’

Making his excuses, James said: ‘A solid relationship and a solid marriage does not revolve around Valentine’s Day. We’ve never done anything for Valentine’s Day. Every day should be Valentine’s Day.’ He joked: ‘I’ve got to sort out this shared calendar thing!’

Clair said she actually still plans to turn it into a nice night, saying: ‘You have given me the best gift you can give me. I’m looking forward to an evening, me and the boys, I’ll get the boys a McDonald’s, I’ll put on the Housewives (of Salt Lake City), I’ll pour myself a little Stella.’