Fox TV’s I Wanna Marry Harry dating show featuring a Prince Harry impersonator from Hertfordshire has been criticized as “shameless” and “predictable”.
Matthew Hicks, 24, won a role in I Wanna Marry Harry that sees him attempt to convince women he is the 29-year-old royal.
The show has faced criticism after being aired in America on Tuesday.
Matthew Hicks, an environmental consultant, said he never thought the premise was mean or deceiving to the girls.
I Wanna Marry Harry dating show featuring a Prince Harry impersonator has been widely criticized (photo FOX)
The Southampton University graduate tries to persuade 12 girls they are competing to date the fourth in line to the British throne in the show.
“They put themselves in this situation,” Matthew Hicks said.
“They’re not weak, mentally fragile girls who especially might break down, and at the end of the day we’re all there for a laugh.”
Matthew Hicks said he thought the real Prince Harry would “think it was quite funny”.
Kensington Palace declined to comment on the show.
Matthew Hicks, who was spotted by producers on a celebrity lookalike website, was given training in royal history.
The geology and oceanography graduate, whose parents live in Henlow, Bedfordshire, played cricket for Hertfordshire.
As well as a history briefing, Matthew Hicks had his blond hair dyed ginger and was housed in an English manor house with guards to film the show.
Over five weeks and a series of dates, Matthew Hicks had to persuade the women who included a pre-school teacher and student studying for a PhD in physical therapy, he really was Prince Harry.
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This year’s Bachelorette Desiree Hartsock was left red faced and sobbing after her favorite suitor, and “the only one she loved” dumped her at the last hurdle.
After eliminating 22 muscle-bound hunks Desiree Hartsock was down to her final three – shy Drew Kenney, “slightly awkward” Chris Siegfried and her “true love” Brooks Forester.
With both Drew Kenney and Chris Siegfried fawning over “Des” like schoolboys, she was apparently “saving her heart” for the outdoor adventurer Brooks Forester.
“I can see my future with him,” Desiree Hartsock she said at the start of the popular ABC dating show – which is set in Antigua for its double episode finale.
“I love Brooks and I miss him every day that I’m not with him. If he got on one knee now and proposed to me I would definitely say yes,” she sighed hopefully.
But while Desiree Hartsock was waxing lyrical about the 28-year-old sales rep his size 11.5 feet were getting seriously chilly.
As the only Bachelor to not yet spout the L-Word Brooks Forester went to visit his mother, before Antigua, for some advice.
“The idea of me proposing to her at the end of this makes me really uncomfortable,” admitted the 6’4″ “conversation-lover” who has nine siblings from his Utah-based parents.
“Don’t propose if you have any doubt at all,” said his mother sagely.
Before taking his mother’s advice Brooks Forester conversed with the show’s host Chris Harrison.
“It’s emotional, it’s agonizing,” confessed the long-haired indie music fan, who according to Life & Style magazine, had cheated on a previous girlfriend with a 51-year-old woman.
When Chris Harrison asked if he would propose, the whole point of the TV show, Brooks Forester said: “I don’t feel it…and I don’t feel like I am going to feel it.”
Making his decision to finally dump the pretty bridal stylist Brooks Forester added: “It’s heavy. It’s really consumed my thoughts all week. No matter what I do there’s going to be tears and heartbreak and it’ll be my fault.”
“In spite of my best efforts I’m not in love with her, and you cannot force a thing like love.”
When he finally broke the news to Desiree Hartsock, a 27-year-old brunette who “loves hiking in the great outdoors”, she went to pieces.
“Why now, why now?” blubbered the Colorado born beauty, while rubbing her eyes.
Bachelorette Desiree Hartsock was left red faced and sobbing after her favorite suitor Brooks Forester dumped her at the last hurdle
Curling into a ball theatrically the L.A. resident continued to weep: “Why, why? Stop it. I don’t know what to say, I love you. You’re the only one. You are breaking my heart.”
Crying so much she was hardly audible Desiree Hartsock lamented that she has “never known what it’s like to have love reciprocated”.
Brooks Forester also made use of his eye plumbing: “I’m surprised at the love that she has for me. I wasn’t expecting that.”
After the “shocking” rejection Desiree Hartsock was left stumped: “I didn’t want to share my heart, I wanted to give it to you.”
“When I was on dates I wanted to be on dates with you,” added Desiree Hartsock, who paradoxically has been filmed having “the most amazing time” with numerous men over the course of the last few weeks.
After Brooks Forester abandoned ship Des was left all at sea.
“It throws everything off having Brooks gone,” she bawled.
“Honestly, for me it’s over… I just want to go home.”
While The Bachelorette usually ends in a highly-staged marriage proposal next week will offer a live finale which the host described as “a big dumpster fire”.
“It’s a disaster,” Chris Harrison said while co-hosting on Kris show- the daytime talk show Kris Jenner has been frantically promoting all summer.
Before the drama unfolded Desiree Hartsock appeared to be enjoying herself with both Drew Kenney and Chris Siegfried.
Drew Kenney and Des decided to “explore the island together” which included prolific kissing, shopping in a market, limbo dancing and more kissing.
“Drew looks so great,” giggled Desiree Hartsock.
“His abs, his eyes, his face, his body, he looks amazing,” she gushed.
The date ended with a romantic walk to a viewpoint where Drew Kenney, 27, descended into full-scale mush.
“Every time I see her I fall more and more in love with her. She’s the woman of my dreams,” he prattled amid close ups of his moist eyes.
“I would get on one knee right now,” Drew Kenney continued to harp, while describing Desiree Hartsock as his “soul mate”.
The pair spent much of their time smooching in various locations and weather conditions.
“I love kissing in the rain,” chimed Desiree Hartsock.
“I can feel the love that comes from his lips. I don’t want to leave those lips,” she added before they headed to “The Fantasy Suite” for some more action.
“I want to hold her in my arms, and wake up next to her and say good morning to her,” said Drew Kenney who has a mentally disabled sister.
“Drew makes me feel like I am a princess,” said Des, revisiting her fairytale analogy, well worn throughout the season.
Her date with “open, kind and romantic” Chris involved a helicopter ride – despite the fact he’s ‘a little scared of heights’.
“As long as Des is there I’ll be OK,” he sighed somewhat in what might be construed as a wimpy move.
“I have no doubt in my mind that she and I are sharing the same feelings of love together,” said the love struck mortgage broker before a beachside picnic.
“Chris is so hot and we really do have the physical attraction down,” said Desiree Hartsock, as they canoodled in the shallows in their bathing suits.
Keen to talk about “the future” Des got into some heavy chat with the Seattle resident over dinner. Chris Siegfried made it clear that he’s not willing to move to L.A. a stumbling block for Des who “doesn’t feel at home” anywhere except California.
“But I do make sacrifices when I’m in love,” she conceded before leading him into a cabana for some late night saccharine.
Inclined to write very questionable poetry Chris Siegfried, 27, had yet another cheesy verse for Des.
The somewhat nauseating piece began with yet another reference to “their journey together” and ended with the line: “I’m excited to spend our lives together, forever.”
They then retreated to the pool for some light petting and the rose petal-strewn Fantasy Suite to “spend the night together”.
But, after plenty of extreme close-ups of washboard abs and Desiree Hartsock’s bikini body, it looks like she’ll have to search elsewhere for love.
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