Britney Spears took 2003 by storm with the double platinum Toxic spending two weeks at number one in the charts.
Now, 20 years later, fans are putting two and two together over the inspiration for the noughties pop classic.
Britney Spears, 41, co-wrote ‘Toxic’ with former pop star Cathy Dennis, whose dating past could reveal the mystery man that Spears sings “should wear a warning” and “tastes of a poison paradise.”
By combing Cathy’s dating past, a credible muse presents himself as Channel 4’s supervet, Noel Fitzpatrick, who broke up with Cathy the same year the song was composed.
Cathy Dennis co-wrote Toxic with Britney Spears
PA
Fitzpatrick, 55, reportedly met Cathy for the first time when she brought her Labrador Charlie to his veterinary surgery.
Joining the dots, pop gossip website Popb*tch wrote: “The man who inspired the Britney Spears track Toxic was someone that the song’s co-writer Cathy Dennis had been dating in the early 2000s, who broke up with her in 2003: Noel Fitzpatrick.”
They continued: “It’s unlikely you’d have known who he was at the time (unless you had a sick spaniel) but he’s better known to most people nowadays as Channel 4’s Supervet!”
The Irish veterinary surgeon has been the face of 17 seasons of The Supervet so far, with no signs of letting up anytime soon.
Noel Fitzpatrick
PA
In his book, Listening to the Animals - Becoming the Supervet, he says if he weren’t addicted to working 16 hours days then he’d likely be addicted to alcohol, drugs, sex, material things, or he might even be dead.
In an interview with The Times in October 2022, Fitzpatrick said: “I feel like I’ve been running from it all my life.”
Opening up about his former relationship with Cathy in the book, Fitzpatrick notes: "Cathy and I remain good friends and I'm sad that I couldn't give her, or anyone else, what is needed in a healthy relationship."
In The Times interview, Fitzpatrick is pressed on his current relationship status.
Britney Spears
PA
Fitzpatrick responded: "Yes, I have a girlfriend and I'm fine. As for children, well my mammy had six and I'd certainly like one but that requires I make changes.”
"I'm still a work in progress. But you know, do I want to bring a child into this cataclysm?"
Fitzpatrick has reflected in the past on a defining moment that set him on the veterinary path at just eight years old, when he witnessed a lamb die on his family farm in Ballyfin, Ireland.
Toxic featured on Britney's fourth studio album and is among the top five most successful songs from 2003, having raked in 14.2 million sales.