PRODUCERS of a daytime reality television show knew exactly what they were looking for when they held auditions.

And Wilmslow IT consultant John Murphy came up with all the right responses. "I just acted daft," he said, and was signed up straightaway.

He was one of the first to be flown out from Manchester to Madrid to join Channel Four's hilarious Coach Trip.

Big Brother on wheels with a coachload of characters on board visiting European destinations the programme is already a hit with daytime viewers.

To add spice the contestants vote each other off at the end of a long day on the road sparking "wanton bitchiness" among the passengers.

John, 34, of Old Road, Wilmslow, stayed on the coach for three weeks along with colleague, Kerry Hood, 29, who was responsible for the couple's early departure after she became home sick. "It was just hilarious from start to finish," said John who is certain he could have made it to journey's end.

"We could have gone all the way, we could have won it, I'm sure. We won best contestant when they changed the rules and we voted for the best instead of for the worst to be thrown off the coach," he said.

The show is a travel programme meets reality television involving seven couples who set out on a six week trip around Europe.

They stop off at destinations on their way, but confined to a coach, tensions run high when people are forced to spend too much time together.

Couples that become just too annoying are voted off by their fellow coach trippers - dropped off at the nearest station and sent home.

Alongside some of the most amazing sights in Europe there are arguments, parties and travel sickness to contend with.

And tasks are set along the way. John's included attending a Spanish language class, visiting a beehive and jet skiing for the first time in his life. The worse part was at night when they had to face the vote.

"It was really bitchy because we had to vote someone off in front of their face. It might be because they had body odour, or a bad hairdo, they were told about it right to their face."

He recalled that he got the "yellow card" one night after a boozy session on a night out.

"I was loving it," he said.

But on day 18 his partner Kerry, 22, who lives in Manchester, threw in the towel, home sick for her eight year old daughter Amy. "The next stop was Ibiza," he said.

Compulsive viewing the show will be screened on Monday, May 22, at 3pm.