Shropshire Big Brother contestant Kris Donnelly has always wanted to be on a reality show and has been a model as well as doing television adverts in New Zealand, his family revealed today.

Kris, 24, who grew up in Longden Road, Shrewsbury, was the fourth contestant on the 10th series of the Channel 4 reality TV show.

His family – mum Elaine, dad Phil, sister Karly and grandma Jean – all watched last night’s show and said it was “surreal” to see Kris on television.

Phil, 52, said his son has always wanted to be on a reality show and has applied to Big Brother before. He also nearly got a place on Channel 4’s Shipwrecked.

He said: “He’s always been an entertainer from a little boy. He makes everybody laugh.”

Kris, who now lives in Manchester and works as a visual merchandiser for the clothes chain All Saints, went to Coleham Primary School, the Wakeman School and Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology.

He went to Manchester Metropolitan University to study for a degree in fashion design but, after two years, he travelled to New Zealand – where hair turned curly.

He made several adverts, including, ironically, one for a clothes chain called Little Brother. Phil said that when Kris came back he got a job with the All Saints shop in Ibiza, which led to him getting the job in Manchester.

The Donnelly family are addicted to Big Brother – except Phil who normally just watches the beginning and the end of the series.

Phil said:“Kris likes a challenge and gets on with everybody.”

Kris told the programme he dropped out of university after the girls stopped doing his work for him. He says he is currently single because he is waiting for “the one”.

Kris thinks people see him as good-looking, confident and focused, but says this is wrong. Because of his looks no one expects any personality from him, he says, and adds “when the package is this pretty no one cares what is inside”.

Kris thinks he will pass every task BB sets the house unless it involves shaving his head. He also thinks he can win.