Slippery character into free love (3)

I believe the answer is:

eel

'slippery character' is the definition.
(slippery fish)

'into free love' is the wordplay.
'into' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'EEL' is hidden within 'free love'.

(Other definitions for eel that I've seen before include "Slimy fish" , "Slippery figure" , "Electric swimmer, perhaps?" , "Slender fish" , "Serpentine fish" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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