WHAT CAN YOU TELL ABOUT A MAN FROM HIS STAR-SIGN?

As I was saying to a friend of mine at the weekend, the problem with men is that one can't often tell very much about them from first sight - really, they should be bar-coded like biscuits, and one should be able to scan them for quality and (emotional) price.

I expect someone inventive will soon have something like that for the iPhone, but in the meantime we'll have to make do with the tried, tested and trusted advice of the planets: here's what I think you can tell about a man from his starsign.

Obviously, this post isn't for astro-sceptics (bugger off Richard Dawkins - Aries, incidentally - we'll never agree on anything) or, probably, men....

LEO: THE CHARISMATIC

How to spot one: Always at the centre of the room, holding court. Tells anecdotes. Aspires to being a raconteur. Usually has good hair

Good at: Making you feel like the sun just came out. Bask in the warmth of his personality

Worst habit: Not noticeably liberated. Very keen that he’s the actor and you’re the audience

Most likely to say: ‘Oh yes, I’ve been there, but I stayed at the [insert name of eleven thousand star hotel]. I hear the [insert name of the crummy BandB you went to] is very nice though’

How to play him: Flattery will get you everywhere

Reliability rating: ***** Extremely loyal

Romance rating: *** Generous and keen to impress. Good at fancy cocktails in smart bars and pretty trinkets

Sex rating: *** Very performance orientated – don’t forget to applaud

VIRGO: THE DISCERNING GENTLEMAN

How to spot one: Neat creases ironed in his jeans, bitten fingernails from all that worrying. Concerned look. Organised wallet. Nice manners

Good at: Evolving – he’s very big on self-improvement. You can train him not to leave the loo-seat up in less than twenty-four hours

Worst habit: Will also try to improve you. It’s quite tedious when someone wants to change you, particularly when they say it’s because they can see your potential

Most likely to say: ‘I’m only saying this for your own good’

How to play him: Listen to his advice and look like you’re taking it seriously. He prefers practical presents and gestures

Reliability rating:** Changes his mind as often as the weather

Romance rating: *** Very good at remembering when he said he’d phone. One of the very few men to believe in putting things in a diary

Sex rating: *** Ultra-fastidious, so not for the unwaxed. Someone who remembers that the devil’s in the detail. Expects you to write a letter thanking him for having you.

LIBRA: THE SMOOTHIE

How to spot one: charming and good-looking. Often to be found acting cool and cultured in chic restaurants and art galleries

Good at: long-term relationships rather than brief flings

Worst habit: Refuses to argue, which is plate-throwingly infuriating

Most likely to say: ‘If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?’

How to play him: Hire a stylist and a personal trainer, and always get up before he does to put your makeup back on. Libra men can be a little too appearance conscious

Reliability rating: *** As long as it doesn’t put him out of his way, and as long as you don’t let yourself go, you’re fine

Romance rating: *****Deeply, deeply smooth. The man for whom candlelit dinners were invented

Sex rating: ** Lazy, so makes you go on top, which then gives you massive anxiety about droopy boobs and remembering to hold your stomach in.

SCORPIO: THE DEMON LOVER

How to spot one: His X-ray eyes strip you to the bone: he doesn’t know it’s rude to stare

Good at: Sex – he’s very talented

Worst habit: Jealousy and possessiveness. He may be cool on the outside, but don't flaunt old - or current - flames

Most likely to say: Not much. He’s the strong, silent, staring type (no, don’t call the police)

How to play him: He’s into power-games – let him think he’s in charge

Reliability rating: **** Exceptionally loyal, but if you break up, he’ll never forgive you

Romance rating:*** Big on brooding intensity and drama. Is it just me, or does that sound the tiniest bit tiring?

Sex rating:***** Oh dear. He’ll spoil you for everyone else. Too rude, too fabulous.

SAGITTARIUS: THE FREE SPIRIT

How to spot one: An endearing combination of optimism and clumsiness, he’s the one who knocks his glass of wine all over you

Good at: Adventure – he’ll encourage you to do mad things you’d never do off your own bat

Worst habit: Doesn’t know the difference between honesty and tactlessness

Most likely to say: 'Er, yes, actually, your bum looks enormous in those jeans'

How to play him: Respect his independence

Reliability rating: * A risk-taker who may not think twice about gambling with your heart

Romance rating: **** Even the most basic model is generous, cheerful and impulsive

Sex rating: *** Values quantity above quality. Enthusiastic, yet lacking in technical merit.

CAPRICORN: THE ENTREPRENEUR

How to spot one: he’s the sign most likely to wear a jacket: even if he doesn't look like a Captain of Industry, he'll have a distinct air of gravitas

Good at: Getting serious. Capricorns are rarely commitment phobic

Worst habit: Career will always be his priority – he treats his blackberry as if it were a tamagotchi that has to be kept alive with constant attention

Most likely to say: ‘Darling, I’m afraid I’m stuck in this meeting’.

How to play him: Don’t look too enthusiastic – he’s the one who you should treat mean to keep him keen

Reliability rating: ***** Accept his work comes first and you couldn’t wish for a more constant consort

Romance rating: **** If he sets his sights on you, he won’t give up until you’re his. Buys extremely decent presents

Sex rating: ***** He’s determined to excel in every area of his life, including you.

AQUARIUS: THE ODDBALL

How to spot one: He’s the one keen to get inside your head, rather than in your pants. Slightly odd fashion-sense – either out-there trendy or, well, just badly dressed

Good at: Creating a truly equal relationship – he genuinely wants you to be yourself (as long as your true self isn’t clingy and emotional)

Worst habit: Emotionally illiterate. Even Mr Spock had more EQ

Most likely to say: ‘You’re just being irrational’

How to play him: Be challenging and ballsy, always phone when you’ve said you will. Never, ever cry or sulk

Reliability rating: ** Does what he likes, when he likes.

Romance rating: ** Doesn’t expect to have to treat the relationship like some kind of kitten that needs nurturing and fluffy ickle babba talk. If he’s said he likes you, he likes you – why do you need to hear it twice?

Sex rating: ***** Inventive. Experimental. Unshockable. Don’t let him near the fruit basket.

PISCES: THE ROMANTIC

How to spot one: Acts tough with the guys and sensitive with the girls, merging chameleon-like into his environment

Good at: Being sensitive and romantic – he’ll give you a spritz of Eau d’Empathy at every opportunity

Worst habit: Escapism – loves a romantic fantasy, not always troubled by telling the truth

Most likely to say: ‘I’ve found this poem that describes exactly how I feel about you’

How to play him: Trust him as far as you can throw him – Pisces is ruled by Neptune, planet of deception

Reliability rating:** Just as you feel the relationship might be going somewhere, he’ll drift away

Romance rating: ***** If you’re cynical, you’ll think he’s watched far too many soppy films. Otherwise, expect to be carried away by the sheer force of his poetry

Sex rating: ***** His imagination would make a Swedish porn movie seem tame. Book the chiropractor – he’s bound to put your back out.

ARIES: THE COMPETITIVE ONE

How to spot one: Hunt one down at the gym, preferably playing some kind of competitive sport

Good at: Winning – once he feels you’re the prize, he won’t stop til he’s got you

Worst habit: Appallingly impatient. Won’t wait, even for five minutes. Not even during a tube strike

Most likely to say: ‘I love you’. Ten minutes after you meet.

How to play him: He loves the thrill of the chase, so always leave him wanting

Reliability rating: **** As long as you make him feel he’s number one, he’ll come back for more

Romance rating: *** Fantastic when he’s in pursuit, pretty pants once he’s made the conquest

Sex rating: *** Aries men will try anything once. And twice if they like it.

TAURUS: THE ROCK

How to spot one: Looks strong, handsome, manly. Rarely badly dressed.

Good at: Creating an entire shelving unit out of some mystery IKEA flatpack, unblocking the lav, cooking dinner, sex

Worst habit: Pedantic. Stubborn. Mulish.

Most likely to say: ‘I can bring my toolkit round if there’s anything you need fixing’

How to play him: Cook for him at the earliest opportunity – the way to a Taurean’s heart is through his stomach

Reliability rating: **** Oh God, so reliable. And tenacious. Taureans are like porridge – easy to make, nutritious, but a devil to get off the pan once you’ve done

Romance rating: ***** Believes in men being men, women being women, and is good at buying presents. What’s not to like?

Sex rating: **** A sexual gourmet with an insatiable appetite and earthy tastes. But once he’s discovered what works, he’s reluctant to alter the routine.

GEMINI: THE FLIRT

How to spot one: Simultaneous use of iPhone and Blackberry. Fidgety. Outrageous flirt. Constant checking of Twitter.

Good at: Making you laugh and being terrific company. Gives good email, and sends saucy texts.

Worst habit: Gemini men always manage to look single. Especially at parties.

Most likely to say: ‘What are you thinking?’

How to play him: Be cool and amusing. Avoid laying any heavy emotional trips on him. Keep him guessing

Reliability rating: ** Forget it. Learn to love his unpredictability

Romance rating: *** Great at Cary Grant-style flirty quips and compliments. Always texts to say he misses you.

Sex rating: *** All gong and no dinner. Unless there’s an App for that too.

CANCER: THE SENSITIVE ONE

How to spot one: By his kind look and shy smile. Loves his mum. Thinks animals are cute. At work you’ll find him sulking in the kitchen

Good at: Hugging, stroking, getting in touch with his feminine side. He’s sensitive, sympathetic and understanding

Worst habit: Extreme moodiness – one minute it’s raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, the next he’s giving you the cold shoulder

Most likely to say: ‘If you don’t know, I’m not going to tell you’

How to play him: Look after him – deep down he’s quite needy

Reliability rating: ***** A real catch (whatever you think of the above) – he’s the best starsign for commitment

Romance rating: *** Sentimental rather than romantic – but wouldn’t you prefer a great husband and father to a tough action hero?

Sex rating: *** Exceptionally good at the post-coital bit: think plenty of cuddling followed by a nice cup of tea.

AND FINALLY...THE MAN MOST LIKELY TO...

...cross dress: Aquarius - he can take his belief in gender equality a little too far

...commit: Scorpio - tops in the loyalty stakes

...jilt you at the altar: Sagittarius - 'they can't take away my freeeeeedom'

...be at B&Q on a Sunday morning: Taurus - loves tools, but isn't one

...spoil you: Leo - loves to impress with expensive gifts

...be a body fascist: Libra- break out the steamed vegetables

...be a good dancer: Pisces - clear the dance-floor

...do the housework: Virgo - bathrooms don't clean themselves, you know

...keep you in style: Capricorn - compensation for another dinner in the dog

...insist you watch the match: Aries - can't understand why you're not turned on by all the aggression

...take you for granted: Gemini - you're there to provide the entertainment, not him

...love his mum more than you: Cancer - she's the most important woman in his life, and don't you forget it