A GRIMSBY woman swapped North East Lincolnshire for the Isle of Fernando when she decided to look for love on TV dating show Take Me Out.
Jade Headland, 23, will appear on tonight's episode of the hit matchmaking programme hosted by comedian Paddy McGuinness.
Jade, a customer service member at a housing company in Grimsby, surprised friends and family when she decided to pursue love on the ITV show last year.
And after two weeks of filming, fun and flirtations in the TV company's studios, Jade will grace our screens tonight – becoming the first Grimsby contestant on the show.
Explaining her decision to apply, Jade said: "I really enjoyed the last series of Take Me Out and I was single at the time so I just decided to apply for it.
"I had a telephone interview with a member of the Take Me Out team early last year and then they invited me down to the studios for an audition.
"My friends and family gave mixed reactions to be honest.
"Some said were a bit like 'what have you done that for?', but others were like 'you'll be great on there Jade!"
She added: "It has been the best experience of my life so far and I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about applying to go on the show."
After an audition at the Take Me Out studios, where she was judged on the way she met with fellow contestants, Jade was told she had been accepted to be on the show, thus becoming a member of the Flirty 30 – the group of girls who compete for a date with a plucky male hopeful.
For those not unfamiliar with the premise of the show, a male looking for love descends down the Love Lift before completing a series of challenges in front of the girls.
The girls then have the option to indicate their interest or disinterest at going on a date with the hopeful by leaving their lights on or off.
Jade said: "I think where it differs from being on the programme and watching it on TV is that you miss out on that connection you get between the girls.
"I have made some friends for life because you spend so much time with each other. The runners, background staff and the make-up artists were all so nice and look after you well."
But did Jade manage to find love and a trip to the Isle of Fernando?
"You'll have to tune in to watch!," she said.
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