ETHAN Smith of Weston-super-Mare made a bombshell appearance on Netflix’s dating show ‘Too Hot to Handle’ back in November, but what is he really like.

The 26-year-old model had the cast of the show on the back foot with his South West banter but at the core, he is a man who has come from humble beginnings.

Ethan grew up in a council estate in Weston and attended Bournville Primary School and had a good time growing up with his two brothers.

He said: “I am proud of my roots in the South West, growing up in Weston was good, of course it had its challenges living in a council estate but it was good.

“I think coming from my background, I found it a little tricky to click with some people on the show, not everyone understood my banter for example.

“But I wanted to have fun on the show, I didn’t go in for the money prize, I just wanted to enjoy the moment.”

On the show, Ethan entered as a ‘grenade’ which meant he came in after other people had already coupled together.

Ethan was given the opportunity to take one girl on a date, for which he chose Sophie, another contestant from Britain.

Sophie however, remained loyal to Creed, whom she was already coupled up with and Ethan was left rejected.

He said: “It was tough to face rejection as that is not something I am particularly used to, however I still really enjoyed my time on the show.

“I did really like Sophie, she is stunning and a nice girl but it wasn’t meant to be.”

The whole premise of the show is that contestants can not kiss or fornicate, all while being filmed 24/7. It is filmed in the beautiful beaches of Turks and Caicos.

Ethan added: “It was tough to follow the rules, if I was in for any longer I feel like I would have broken them.

“And the cameras were weird at first, but you get used to them. It was all pretty crazy in fairness, and Lana (the shows AI) was everywhere!”

But now it is back to reality for the man from Weston as he looks to continue his modelling career.

“For now, I want to get back in to modelling and potentially maintain a career on the television.”

“I also want to thank my friends and family back home who have been so supportive of me my whole life, and also to the team at Netflix and Fremantle. Credit to them, they have been so helpful and supportive for me.”

Of course, we had to ask Ethan what his favourite parts of Somerset and Weston-super-Mare are.

He said: “I love my cider, as anyone should from that part of the world, in particular Thatchers Haze, but it has to be drunk from a bar on the Weston sea front.”