ASPIRING model Marcus Hafner didn’t mind being shipwrecked on a desert island one little bit.

In fact, the 20-year-old from Dalton said the whole experience was one of the best moments of his life.

Marcus jetted off to the Cook Islands last September to take part in Channel 4 reality TV show Shipwrecked.

The show features youngsters marooned on two competing islands and is now being aired on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Marcus makes his first appearance on the show this weekend.

The Dalton man competed against other young hopefuls for a chance to win £70,000

But he’s keeping quiet for now about whether he scooped the grand prize.

The former Rawthorpe High School pupil said: “The whole experience was so surreal – having to fend for yourself on a desert island with people you don’t know.

Marcus had to leave behind girlfriend Naomi, 19, for seven weeks while he was on the show, which features presenters Miquita Oliver and Steve Jones

He said: “She was happy that I had achieved something so good, but obviously you’re going to worry about the temptations with all those other girls in bikinis around.

“But she had nothing to worry about while I was on the island – I was just getting to know people and having fun.

“Nothing compares to being out there on your own and it was a very eye-opening experience.

“It’s surreal that someone from Dalton can be on a program like that and achieve something like that.

“I’m a cocky person but not in a bad way – I like to have a laugh and a bit of a banter with people.”

Marcus, who previously worked in sales at Vauxhall in Leeds is now trying to forge a modelling career.

He’s currently living back home in Dalton with mum Linda, 45.

He said: “It’s nice being back home in Huddersfield and my mum is the star of my life.”