It’s back. The so-called most depressing day of the year – Blue Monday – is upon us once again.

Today (January 18), we are supposed to feel the most glum – struck down by our post-Christmas finances, the bad weather and the long, long, long wait for the summer.

New research by the Co-op found that January is when British people are at their loneliest, with 26 per cent claiming it is the month they feel the most isolated.

On top of this, 87 per cent of the population also feel the weather has a direct influence on their mood, according to a poll from LeoVegas.com.

But it might not just be the gloomy skies bringing the country down, as the data also suggests two-thirds of people feel depressed on their way to work.

The third Monday in January was first identified as the most depressing day of the year back in 2005 but is it really all that melancholy?

Surely, some of us might be feeling a lot happier with a fresh start to contend with, Christmas money to spend, holidays to plan and new health and fitness routines to enjoy.

News Shopper wants to know what you think – is today really all that bad?

Supermarket giant Tesco is hoping to cheer everyone up by handing out free fruit between 3.30pm and 5.30pm at stores across the country.

On offer to the sullen shoppers will be kiwis, apples, clementines and blueberries.

Tesco's corporate responsibility director Josh Hardie said: "We know today is the day people are most likely to be feeling the January blues, and we hope a free piece of fruit will help our customers feel a little bit happier as they shop with us."