Willenhall's Stacey Dixon finds TV fame on Take Me Out

It is the brutally honest dating show where unwanted suitors are sent packing with the catchphrase "no likey, no lighty".

Now an unlucky-in-love Black Country teenager has lifted the lid on her experience of searching for The One on hit series Take Me Out.

Viewers saw Stacey Dixon's debut on the ITV show last Saturday night, lining up with 29 other women vying for the attentions of four brave bachelors. And after failing to find Mr Right, the 19-year-old, who runs Party Angels in Cannock Road, Bushbury, will be back on our screens this weekend.

She described taking part in the show as one of the most fun experiences of her life - and said host, former Phoenix Nights star and funnyman Paddy McGuinness, is "just like a brother".

But her lips are sealed on whether she manages to meet the man of her dreams.

The former Willenhall School Sports College pupil said: "I'd seen the show on TV and I think I was a little bit hungover and I just thought it would be a laugh to go on it.

"I applied and was called to an audition in Birmingham but I never thought I'd get on it.

"When they called me up to offer me a place I was so shocked."

The show was filmed at an ITV studio in Kent over a two-and-a-half week period back in October.

"It was just an amazing experience," said Stacey.

"It was like a big girly night out.

"All the ladies I met were so lovely. I thought with all girls together it might be a bit catty but it wasn't at all.

"It was just like one big party and I'm definitely going to keep in touch with the girls.

"Paddy McGuinness is lovely too. He's just like a brother to us all now.

"He just comes over and puts you at ease because you do get nervous in front of a live television audience of around 600.

"We had a bit of a running joke because my voice is a bit high-pitched and I speak really quickly and he said, 'Stacey, nobody can understand you'."

Stacey said she has been unlucky in love after being single for two years now.

"My track record isn't good," she said.

"I've had some time out to myself now to set up my business and things and I just thought this was a perfect opportunity to maybe meet someone."

"My ideal man is someone with a wonderful personality who is able to keep up with me because I do talk quite a lot.

"Looks don't really matter to me but I do like someone taller than me, with a bit of muscle and a bit of facial hair." Stacey set up her own party shop just a few months ago after finding herself out of work.

She lost her job at Lidl's Walsall store where she worked as an administrator early last year.

After struggling to find work, she decided to sink her life savings into her dream of running her own business.

"It's going really well," said Stacey, who specialises in balloon modelling.

"We've had a really busy Christmas and new year period.

"I'd spent a lot of time and effort setting that up and had been really busy so I thought Take Me Out was a good chance to have a laugh and relax a bit."

The show - famous for its catchphrase "no likey, no lighty" - involves four willing men trying to impress the female contestants with insights into their lives and hidden talents.

The men descend on stage in a glass lift, bursting into the show to a song of their choice.

But if one of the ladies does not like what she sees, she can rule herself out of the running for a date by turning off her illuminated podium. If all lights turn off, the men go home empty-handed.

But those who managed to keep some of the girls interested get a chance to get their own back, turning off their lights until they end up with the contestant they'd most like to go out with. Those who bag themselves a date then jet off to the romantic "Isle of Fernando" - a fictional holiday resort based in Spain.

Stacey wasn't the only contestant from the Black Country in last week's show - Wordsley pest controller Christan Hems tried his luck with the ladies but failed to win anyone's heart.

The 38-year-old father-of-one said his job with Pestforce and his accent did not do him any favours.

He started quite well but his video put the ladies off.

But he managed to find love closer to home, and is now dating Laura Evans, 26, after a chance meeting in Que Pasa in Stourbridge.

By Catherine Dalton