26-year-old Geoff Baird, the Managing Director of a hotel and entertainment business, is originally from Pond Park will be competing against 12 other hunks from across Northern Ireland for the title.

Geoff works for Finell Group which run the Seagoe Hotel, Gowdy's at the Racecourse and the Point and explained how it all started off as an office joke. The company's PR people promptly entered Geoff into the competition and before he knew it he was being whisked off for a photo shoot and being put on the spotlight to answer some questions.

The next thing he knew he was in the final, which will be held on September 11 at the Northern Whig when he will be up against a footballer, a model, a show jumper, a singer and even a scientist.
"It's just a bit of craic," Geoff said. "Some of my colleagues at work have been slating me, telling me to watch what I eat and to exercise but I'm not taking it that seriously.

"I thought the photo shoot would be a bit embarrassing but its good for PR and its good for the company."

Many of Geoff's family and friends will be supporting the married 26 year old at the final where £1000 will be up for grabs.
"I hope that I don't have to do any of the catwalk stuff or anything that means making a fool of myself," he said.

"I thought the photo shoot would have been very embarrassing but I really enjoyed it. My wife is cringeing already but she sees the funny side of it."

The competition is being organised by Northern Woman and Editor Lyn Palmer said: "This year's nominations have been more varied than ever – though the men are just as mouth-watering - so it was especially difficult to choose a mere 12 finalists."
The magazine will donate proceeds from the ticket sales to the charity of the winner's choice – last year's recipient was the Clic-Sargeant Cancer Appeal.

The other Finalists are: Chris Dobbin (28), Belfast; Lee Rustie (19), Portstewart; Bjorn Blythe (23), Bangor; Matthew Thom, (21), Coleraine; Gavin Gough, (19), Derry; Matthew Toman, (26), Lurgan; Sean Paul Gilbride, (19), Belfast; Adam Cummings, (24), Belfast; Alan Thompson, (27), Derry; Martin McCafferty, (26), Derry and Tuda Murphy, (27), Lurgan.