BRAD Dalrymple left Australia for Britain a no-name university graduate seeking his fortune. Just 18-months later he is e-mailing home stories of TV and stage stardom much to the amazement of friends and family.

He was even invited to switch on Christmas lights - a job usually afforded to the A-list celebrities or truly deserving locals.

The eccentric Aussie, who is currently working at Bentley's Engineering and living in Skipton, will be seen by families across the nation tomorrow night (Saturday) as he struts his stuff on ITV's Blind Date.

A truly international affair, Brad joins a Belgian and a Pakistani, wanting to be chosen by the female contestant and whisked away to an exotic holiday location.

Not one to shy away from fame or television cameras, 24-year-old Brad dons a safari suit, sunglasses and sandals in a bid to win the hearts of the audience, and, fingers crossed, a date for the weekend.

But Craven folk will have to watch the TV programme to see whether his warm Aussie accent and crazy costumes make a conquest.

Brad applied to be on Blind Date after watching the programme for only the second time and thought that it looked like good fun. He called the number displayed on screen at the end of the show and was offered an audition with 15,000 other wannabes in Leeds.

"I was given a five minute interview, and the woman interviewing me did not laugh at any of my jokes. I thought I had no chance and was surprised to get the second call up in Manchester," said Brad.

The 90 minutes of "absolute silliness" in front of cameras including "stupid dances" and spiels about why he should be on the show obviously impressed the show's producers and a month later Brad was called up to be on Blind Date.

"I went on in August and I guess I was a little bit nervous but more pumped and excited," said Brad.

For all of you who wanted to know the secrets behind the popular show here goes:

Yes the contestants do get to see the questions before they are filmed giving their answers and they get one hour to prepare what they are going to say!

"I was really nerve wracking sitting there trying to come up with something half decent and avoiding the cheesiness," said Brad.

The men were then taken into make-up with their packed suitcases. The Blind Date couple are whisked off to a hotel or on holiday immediately after the show.

There is a rehearsal on stage with an actor playing the picker so the contestants can get rid of any nerves before the actual game begins.

Brad said he was lucky enough to meet show host Cilla Black backstage before the filming and being the charmer he presented her with a single red rose.

"On the show and behind the scenes she was very funny," said Brad.

As to whether Brad's hopes of meeting that special someone or not on Blind Date, you will just have to wait and see.

He plans to send a video of the show to his mum and dad in Noosa and brothers in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Brad's impending TV stardom also brought him to the attention of the Skipton Christmas Lights' Committee as they were planning the switch on of the town's illuminations. Brad was chosen as the event's celebrity and was driven up the High Street in a limousine before helping to turn on the lights.

And, his performing talents have already been witnessed by a number of people as he took a starring role in the Arcadia theatre group's most recent production.

However, much to his disappointment, news of Brad's fame has not yet quite reached the female population of Skipton, as he might have liked, but he is hoping his starring moment on TV will do much to improve his appeal during the coming nights out in Skipton's Bliss nightclub!