DOUBLES PARTNER; BORIS BECKER'S EX-WIFE IS DATING HIS LOOK-ALIKE AND SHE'S NOT THE FIRST TO FALL FOR THE SPITTING IMAGE OF AN OLD FLAME.

Byline: By Maria Croce

WHEN it comes to falling in love with a new partner it seems it's better the devil you know.

Barbara Becker is the latest to choose a lookalike love. Her new beau is a dead ringer for her ex - tennis legend Boris Becker.

And she's not the first well known face to revert to type after a split.

But social psychologist Dr Arthur Cassidy says research shows we don't deliberately set out to look for someone identical to a former lover.

Apparently we select those we think will be good breeding material - and in today's society that tends towards particular physical characteristics like high cheekbones and wide mouth and eyes in women.

For men, we usually prefer them to look physically fit when we're searching for a mate.

So maybe Barbara spotted something in new love Lapo Elkann's make-up that made her view him as a good catch - and that just happened to be what she also saw in her ex-husband.

Maybe it was the fair hair and complexion, or perhaps it's the fact Elkann is heir to the Fiat-Ferrari fortune.

But fingers crossed this one turns out to be a love-all match.

Here we take a look at some of the other stars to have hooked up with a doppelganger of their ex.

HUGH GRANT

AFTER his long-term relationship with glamorous model Liz Hurley, actor Hugh Grant started dating socialite Jemima Khan. Her hair was a few shades lighter than Hurley's but she also had the model girl looks and posh accent that seemed to draw Grant in.

JOHNNY DEPP

PIRATES of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp first fell for skinny, straight-haired model Kate Moss, right. But when the pair split, he hooked up with sophisticated French singer Vanessa Paradis, who bears more than a passing resemblance to his ex. On a few occasions both women have even sported the same swept back hair-do.

PAMELA ANDERSON

THE ex-Batchwatch babe seems to be hooked on bad boy rockers. After she split from husband Tommy Lee, above, Pamela found a similar love in the shape of Kid Rock. Both men had long hair, tight trousers and the unkempt look that is favoured by true rock stars.

ROD STEWART

THE Do Ya Think I'm Sexy rocker Rod is famous for his love of blondes with long legs. After splitting from his model wife Rachel Hunter he teamed up with photographer Penny Lancaster, left. She was brunette, but it wasn't long before she lightened up, and blonde Penny is now Rod's wife.

LIAM GALLAGHER

FIRST he was married to blonde singer-turned-actress Patsy Kensit. Then, after they broke up, Oasis frontman Liam moved on to All Saints singer Nicole Appleton - who has similar good looks and long blonde hair to Patsy. Seeing Nicole and Liam up close together as a couple, it's not that different a picture to Liam with his ex - but hopefully this relationship has a much happier ending.

CAPTION(S):

HUGH GRANT; JOHNNY DEPP; PAMELA ANDERSON; ROD STEWART; LIAM GALLAGHER; PICTURE: FRANK ROSS / RETNA PICTURES