To give our British Editor his due (and we have no choice anyway), his eternal optimism can be quite tiring at times. Especially when he insists on ignoring reality.  Like now, when he receives a plea for help from the organizers of the Mr. England Competition.  Evidently, they are in panic mode, as they have only 7 contestants so far for next month’s final… out of the 12 they need. THEY HAVE DECLARED AN OFFICIAL HUNK SHORTAGE.

Just two years ago, the contest had 159 entrants who were whittled down to 12 finalists, and the winner was a British Army Lance Corporal in the Coldstream Guards.  We are not sure of Manuel Alcantara Turner‘s sexuality, BUT we do know he hung out with queens.  Well, one example like when he served at Queen Elizabeth‘s funeral (and King Charles‘ coronation).  He said that enlisting transformed him from a “boy into a man” and that he was totally devoted to duty.  Sadly, he didn’t elaborate any further on this transition 

The annual contest is looking for men aged between 17 and 27 to compete for the chance to represent England internationally and ultimately progress towards the Mr World competition. Facts that stopped our ‘older’ Editor in his tracks.  We tried to explain to him that even if he was young enough (!), applicants should be single, confident, sporty, good-looking, charitable and charismatic. He, however, was more fixated on the fact that the winner would receive the opportunity to go on and represent England at Mr World, an international competition that brings together national titleholders from multiple countries.

If this has tickled your fancy, men aged 17 to 27 who meet the entry criteria can apply online, with organisers asking prospective contestants to submit a photograph along with their height and occupation via the Mr England Instagram account

PS You may think it all sounds like a plot for a potential porn movie when you read that another previous finalist, Nathaniel Cranton, has since gone on to become a WWE wrestler after previously working as a sheep farmer in Dorset.