Pest controller stars in ITV's Take Me Out

It was a case of no likey, no lighty for unlucky-in-love pest controller Christan Hems when he took part in a TV dating show to be screened next month.

But despite being rejected as a date by contestants, Christan has a new light of his life closer to home in the Black Country.

The father-of-one says his Black Country accent and passion for his job clearing the streets of vermin did him no favours on ITV's Take Me Out.

The show features men who compete in turn for a date with 30 single women who turn off a light on their stand if they don't like what they see — giving presenter Paddy McGuinness his catchphrase "No likey, no lighty".

Christan, aged 38, of Stourbridge, took the chance to appear on the show after the producers got in touch with his firm Pestforce asking for single men to take part.

"Mr girlfriend of six years had just left me, and by chance the producers had called up, and the boss asked if I'd like to do it, and as I was single I thought why not," said Christan of Harrison Road, Wordsley.

But just before he was due to go on the show, he met Laura Evans, 26, during a night out at the Que Pasa nightclub in Stourbridge. Mother-of-two Laura said: "I was a bit jealous to begin with but I realised that it was only a bit of fun and let him get on with it."

It seemed that love was on the cards for Christan as five lights out of 30 went out in the first round but Cupid didn't seem to be looking his way as the second round kicked off with a video showing his day job.

"I think the video didn't really endear me to them," he said. He found he was down to five girls, and after some final questions and banter, he was left high and dry as they turned their lights off.