A Lanarkshire dad has told of his star-stricken encounter with 80's pop icon Sinitta on the television show 'Celebs Go Dating'.
James McAuley was asked to go on the E4 show after his TikTok account impressed producers.
The car salesman from Airdrie says the 'So Macho' singer found it difficult to understand his accent at first, but they got on really well and shared a few laughs.
However, the 49-year-old admits there wasn't a spark with the 80s popstar, as he told Lanarkshire Live "the attraction wasn't there".
He even managed to bring up her connection with Simon Cowell, as he reflects on his surreal experience on the show.
James told us : "They contacted me through my TikTok asking me if I wanted to go on the show and I thought it was a wind up at first.
"I decided why not, let's go try it for a laugh, it's not often you get to meet celebrities.
"I did an advert for Arnold Clark years ago but this was the first time I was on TV since.
"It was a really nice experience, everyone was so nice and welcoming."
James, now living in Coatbridge, says he felt star-struck on Celebs Go Dating, but loved every minute of his filming in London in August.
And speaking of his chats with Sinitta, he added: "There just wasn't a connection from me with her, but I just wanted to go down and do the experience.
"She was a lovely woman but I think I was a bit out my depth.
"We went on and had a chat and they asked if I was interested on meeting up for another date, and I wasn't really clicking with her. I probably would've if I plugged a wee bit more into it but I was really interested.
"There was not a connection or spark from me.
"These people are multi-millionaires and I'm just a guy from the scheme so it would always be hard to adapt to the lifestyle they have.
"I was a bit star struck so I didn't really know what to do or what to say and then you see all the cameras around you. So I didn't feel it was me being myself.
"Sinitta was lovely, she told she was doing quite a bit of work in Glasgow. She was just a genuine normal person. She found it hard to understand me a bit because of the Scottish accent, asking what I work as and things like that.
"I was asking her about her songs and she came across really nice."
"I was very flattered as an old guy that sells cars was asked to come on the show", James continued.
"I got on alright with Sinitta and spoke with her after. But it definitely wasn't love at first sight or anything, the attraction wasn't there.
"It was nice to see a lot of celebrities, getting to meet them and just knowing they're normal people at the end of the day, and since it all my TikTok views have went up as well.
"My family were a wee bit embarrassed about it at first when they heard I was on the show but they came round. You only get one opportunity in this life and you need to take it. That's the way I look it, so I got them to warm round in the end."
Celebs Go Dating is expected to return to screens next month. It sees single celebrities search for love with non-famous people.
During James's filming, he managed to spark up a relationship about X Factor judge Simon Cowell's relationship with Sinitta.
James said: "It was me that actually brought up Simon Cowell.
"The ironic thing is I had to take my suit jacket off because it was that warm so I was just wearing a white t-shirt, which is what he used to always wear. So I thought 'I hope she doesn't think I'm trying to look like Simon Cowell'.
"Then she said she'd never dated a guy with tattoos, and when I asked she said she's still really good friends with Simon."
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