OFFICE worker Emma-Louise Ryan is trying to win the heart of a single man in a new BBC television programme.

Miss Ryan, 24, who lives with her parents in Erlestoke, near Devizes, is one of 25 women chosen for the programme, The Bachelor, which began on the BBC Three digital channel on Friday.

The programme features 28-year-old bachelor Jamie Williams and he has to pick the girl of his dreams from the 25 contestants.

In the first episode all 25 girls met Mr Williams during a cocktail party at the 'bachelor mansion', which was the 18th century Shaw House at Atworth in Wiltshire.

At the end of the episode Mr Williams had to whittle the girls down to 15 and Miss Ryan was one of the 15.

In the second episode, due to be screened tomorrow night, the 15 girls go with Mr Williams to the French Riviera.

Each week will see a small number of girls eliminated until the final week when four girls will battle it out to win Mr Williams' hand.

Each week the remaining girls will go on dates with Mr Williams in Europe.

Miss Ryan, who is bound by a confidential agreement with the BBC not to reveal her progress on the programme, said taking part in the programme had been a fun experience.

She said: "I was looking to have some fun when I applied to go on the programme, I wasn't necessarily looking for love."

Miss Ryan, whose last serious relationship finished two years ago after four years, said: "There was a fantastic atmosphere on the programme. Although at times tensions were mounting, none of the girls were bitchy, we all got on well."

Miss Ryan only made it on to the programme through good fortune.

She saw a leaflet about the show while she was working in Bath as a general manager and was invited to an interview with the programme makers.

But by that point all 25 girls had been chosen and Miss Ryan was appointed a standby contestant.

One of the girls did pull out shortly before the filming began and Miss Ryan took her place.

Miss Ryan is a brunette, which Mr Williams says is his preference.