VOICEOVER STAR IAIN ON
Sharp-tongued narrator Iain, 31, has always been passionate about supporting fellow Scots.
He says his earliest memory of cheering a Scot to success was when he was allowed to stay up late to watch curler Rhona Martin and her team win a gold medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
And he says watching gym owner Anton, 24, of Blackridge, West Lothian, stirs up the same feeling of national pride.
Iain, who grew up in Edinburgh, said: “I think Anton’s brilliant. He’s coming across as being genuinely funny, genuinely kind and has gone on to the show genuinely looking for love, which is nice to see.
“He’s also been really interesting to watch because when he f irst arrived, and maybe for about the first three or four days, he had said or done things that meant the people of Scotland had kind of disowned him.
“But as the show has gone on, he was won everyone right back.
“I’m hoping he keeps doing really well, which is such a Scottish thing – wanting to see other Scottish people do well in anything.
“I remember being quite a young boy and my parents letting me stay up late to watch a Scottish women’s curling team going for gold in the final of the Winter Olympics.
“I’d never watched curling in my life but, just because they were Scottish and going for a medal, then I was their biggest fan.
“It’s the same with Anton and I was like that with Laura (Anderson), who was Scottish and on the show last year.”
Comedian Iain, who studied law at Edinburgh University, says working on the ITV2 show is a dream job.
When he first auditioned to become the narrator, he never imagined the role would thrust him into the limelight as much as show host Caroline Flack or the programme’s young stars.
But as the glamorous show enjoys record viewing figures of more than three million people, he says he is enjoying every minute. He said: “I
think thereere are very fewfewpeoplepeople whow have becomecome known for doing a voiceoverr but I love it.
“Whenn I was growing up, I can honestlynestly say no one ever cameme up to me and said, ‘ You’veou’ve got a great voice for voiceovers.’ But maybe I can pave the way for others.ers. Maybe it’s somethingng people could study at university.
“Whenn the first series started, a lot of people on Twitterter thought it was Davidd Tennant that was doingng the voiceover.
“I’ve actuallyctually met him at the Scottishottish Baftas a couple of times and was temptedmpted to mentionn it to him and seeee i f he ever getss asked about L ov e I s l a nd but chickeneded out.
“At thee start of the year, my phone started going nuts one day – there mus t have I