WOMEN in Colchester could get a pleasant surprise when they get their boiler serviced.

A British Gas engineer will soon be gracing the television screens of homes throughout the country as he takes up the mantle as the new Next model.

Dan Clarke only entered the competition to be the fashion company’s latest face after a chance encounter in a bike shop.

The 26-year-old, who has no experience in the world of modelling, said: “I had gone to test ride a motorbike, and while I was waiting this bloke waltzed in and said he wanted to test it.

“I told him he was going to have to wait his turn and we got chatting.

“To cut a long story short, after a bit he said ‘I’m not being funny, but have you ever thought about modelling?’ I just thought ‘hang on. what’s going on? Does he want my number?’ “He gave me his name and number and told me to look him up online and call him if I was interested.”

When Dan got home he Googled the man, only to discover it was Paul Sculfor, a man as famous for dating the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz, as for modelling for Christian Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier.

He rang him, and Paul suggested Dan entered the Next competition.

Fifty finalists were chosen out of 4,200 entrants, and they were then whittled down to one male and one female winner through a competition on Facebook.

They received £2,000 in Next vouchers and will feature in the Spring/Summer Next Directory, out in December.

Dan, of Turner Road, Colchester, laughed: “I’d never thought about modelling before, let alone being the face of Next. I was totally amazed, I still am.”

He quickly got over his shock in time to enjoy the perks.

He continued: “I thought it was going to be really pretentious and over the top, but from what I’ve seen so far, everyone is really supportive and top drawer.

“Next is like a big happy family and treats you like you’ve been there for years.

“We were sent to New York straight away to film the TV advert.

“I’m not bothered about the whole fame thing. I entered it as a bit of a laugh. I had nothing to lose.

“I now get to go to really nice places, see the world and meet all these new people all the time.”

“Everyone is beautiful obviously, so you can’t go wrong. It’s like heaven.”

The television advert and Next Directory are yet to be released and there is a photo shoot in Hello magazine due out in the next week, but Dan is already getting recognised in his hometown. He said: “I think it’s from Facebook more than anything.”

His feet are firmly on the ground though, as he still works for British Gas, insisting he prefers a stable career.

Dan said: “At the end of the day I’ve got a mortgage to pay and modelling is not exactly a career unless you get a big break.

“I’m trying to juggle both at the moment, because I’m not ready to jump into the fire.

“It’s all good fun and my mates at work love giving me a bit of stick. This just gives them more ammunition.”