ASPIRING television star James Clark has beaten thousands of people hoping to win a part in a reality TV series.

He is only North-Easterner to get into the final 20 who want to win a place in Cruel Holiday, with the chance to win £10,000.

The Stockton man will face all sorts of tough challenges if he is successful and gets a place in the show.

His future depends on the ten hopefuls who get the most votes via satellite channel Trouble's website.

Now he is asking people from across the region to back him by logging on and voting for him from Monday.

"I am really looking forward to it but I am really nervous because I know it will be really hard," said Mr Clark, 20, who works in telesales for Askalix, in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton.

"There will probably be stuff like eating insects and I don't really want to do it but I will if I have to."

"It all about pushing the boundaries and testing yourself."

Ten contestants will battle it out over four weeks in the show which is described as a mix between Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here.

Members of the public make all the decisions about who stays, who goes, who is punished and what that punishment entails.

Mr Clarke hopes the show will act as a launch pad for his dream job as a television presenter but it will not be his first taste of fame.

He had a bit part in Billy Elliot, went on holiday to France with Blind Date and, more recently, appeared on Channel Four's Your Face Or Mine, hosted by June Sarpong.

The show will be hosted by former reality television star Hayley Evetts, from Pop Idol.

She said: "I know my peers have pursued careers as solo artists but I am thrilled to pursue a solid career in television.

"Cruel Holiday is a great way to launch it because it is my own show and I am really excited about it."

To show your support for Mr Clarke, log on to www.trouble.co.uk and vote to put him in the show.