Shropshire husband and wife team scoop top prize on B&B TV reality show

Mark and Rachael Dann, from Big Bear Lodge, at Melverly, were last night crowned champions on Four In A Bed.

They had been pitted against bed and breakfast owners from around the UK in a week-long challenge to find out who was best.

And the laid-back couple, who got on well with all of their competitors, were voted the best of all.

Mr Dann, who was inspired to open his business by Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze, said he was delighted.

He said: "We won it. We didn't expect to. It was great fun. We got on with all of the other couples, though we got on particularly well with one of them."

Mr Dann is hoping that the exposure for his business will lead to a bulging order book.

He said: "We're already busy at weekends and now we're hoping that we'll be fully booked during the week too.

"I've done quite a bit of TV work over the years. I used to be a Hollywood stuntman and I've worked on other programmes back in the UK."

Mr Dann also runs Beyond Extreme, an outdoor pursuits business that specialises in paragliding. He said many people who came to him to learn about paragliding wanted a place to stay, so he had built one with his partner, Rachael.

He said: "My family have always worked in the trade, so it seemed like a natural thing to do."

The other couples in the programme were from Brighton, Newmarket and New Brighton, near Liverpool.

Mr Dann added: "We've not been open for too long and the objective is to get our name out there. Hopefully the show will bring a lot more visitors to us.

"It was great fun to take part and it was great to be named the winner."