Hunky Charles Towning has beat off competition from more than 4,000 hopefuls to the final of a contest to find the best beefcake in the UK.

The 30-year-old recruitment consultant, from Repton Grove, Southend, could be the first Englishman ever to appear on the cover of Men's Health magazine if he wins the final of the contest at London's Cafe Grand Prix on Monday.

The British edition of the magazine has never featured a British male on its cover because UK male models have never been able to meet the tough criteria imposed by the US publisher.

The winner will receive a modelling contract and be flown to Miami for a four-day shoot with a top US photographer, prior to appearing on the magazine cover later this year and also becoming the new face of Orbit Ice White chewing gum.

Published Friday August 16, 2002

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