Burnley man appears in E4 reality TV show (From Chorley Citizen)

Burnley man appears in E4 reality TV show

1:32pm Thursday 5th January 2012 in TV By Chris Gee, Reporter

THE STAR of a TV reality show has described how he was recruited for the “dream experience” as he walked through a shopping centre.

Kyle Eccleston, 24, is one of the contestants on E4’s new show Playing It Straight.

He and 10 other young men arrived in Spain to participate in what they thought was a show called Dream Date.

However, host Jameela Jamil then announced they were actually taking part in Playing It Straight.

The men were told some of the participants were straight and were there to try to win the heart of female contestant Cara.

However, others were merely 'Playing It Straight' and were actually gay but out to deceive Cara into thinking they were the right man for her.

The former St Theodore’s School pupil, from Cliviger, said he had been walking through the Arndale centre in Manchester last summer when he was approached by a scout.

Just weeks later, he swapped shifts in the family’s chip shop, Tompson’s in Bury, to lap up the sunshine in a huge villa just outside Barcelona, as filming began on the show.

Kyle, who has a twin sister, Lucy, said: “When I was asked if I was interested I thought it was a wind-up.

“But after an interview in London I was on my way. It was really a unique experience and I will look back on it with loads of fond memories.

“Cara, the female contestant is a lovely person.

“Lucy and I auditioned for S Club Juniors a few years ago but I’ve done nothing like that since.”

Over eight episodes the men take part in a series of comedy challenges, all the time trying to win time alone with Cara.

At the end of it all, if Cara chooses a straight man they win £25k each.

However, if she picks one of the gay guys, he will walk away with £50k, and she will win nothing.

The series, narrated by Alan Carr, begins at 9pm on Monday, January 9.