Tara Palmer-TomkinsonBritish socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson has said she’s finally now comfortable with being single rather than settling for substandard relationships.

She told the News of the World recently: “When I was younger, I moved from one short-term relationship to another. I didn’t feel right unless there was a boyfriend on the scene. I guess I wasn’t as secure with myself back then.”

“Dating has always been the easy bit for me. I’m good at playing the role of the perfect girlfriend at the beginning. It’s when I fall in love that things get messy.”

“It took me a long time to recover from my break-up with [Matalan heir] Jamie Hargreaves, three years ago. I can honestly say it was the worst experience of my life. After two years of being together, I really believed he was The One. When it was over, it felt as though I was grieving a death. I didn’t leave the house for the first three weeks.”

Tara has since had high-profile flings with friend Robbie Williams and James Blunt but she insists she’s “still not ready” to start another serious relationship: “It’s been a tough journey, but I’ve finally learned it’s OK to be single. In fact, it’s just where I want to be right now.”

“When I look at the friends around me who are unhappy in long-term relationships and marriages, it makes me realise it’s better to be with no man than with the wrong man.”