WHEN Hampshire beauty Nicola Osmond gave up everything to fly to the other side of the world in pursuit of love, she hoped she would find the man of her dreams.

But as viewers of ITV's Desperately Seeking Sheila, which started last night, will discover, the course of true love, sadly, did not run smoothly.

Right from the start, the 26-year-old former PA from Winchester was not impressed by her bush bachelor - and the experience went from bad to worse.

She sent off her application to appear on the show with hope in her heart - and when she was selected to fly to Perth in Western Australia, she was delighted.

"When a friend of mine told me they were looking for women to take part in the show, I thought it would be a great opportunity.

"I had just split up with my boyfriend and I thought a change of scenery would do me good.

"I know it was a really silly, romantic notion but I am a great believer in fate and I thought I might just meet the man for me on the other side of the world," she said.

Four single Australian men were looking for a Sheila to settle down with and each man had one weekend of dates at a luxury resort in Perth to choose the lucky lady he wanted to stay with him.

Nicola was selected by Ashley Lewis, a 38-year-old millionaire farmer, to spend three weeks with him on his sheep farm in Western Australia.

He still lives with mum Doreen, who cooks his dinner every evening, and he sleeps in the same single bed he has used all his life.

Ashley is looking for a woman to fit in with his way of life on the farm, "doing the jobs he doesn't want to do", he said.

He has lived and worked on the farm all his life and can't imagine ever leaving Wickepin.

Despite his obvious eligibility he hasn't had much luck with girlfriends; they have to fit perfectly with his way of life. Living 20 miles from his nearest neighbour means he has become very set in his ways.

Ashley found it hard to understand why he hadn't found his ideal Sheila, as he thought of himself as a good-looking, wealthy bachelor.

"It's an easy wicket for a girl," said Ashley.

He thinks finding a wife should still be as easy as it was for his father, who went off to Perth one day and came back with his wife, and Ashley's mother, Doreen!

"I had seen a picture of Ashley - and I must say it was a very flattering shot. But when I met him I realised early on he wasn't the one for me.

"I was always polite and friendly with him but I ended up having to make it very clear to him that I didn't want him to pick me.

"But he didn't seem to care about what I wanted, it was all about what Ashley wanted," she said.

Despite her protestations Ashley went ahead and chose her to be the girl who would stay with him for three weeks.

"You can see from my face, how I felt about it all but I didn't want to let down the show's producers.

"So I decided to make the best of it. There wasn't any point in moping around," she said.

She enjoyed the stunning scenery and meeting Ashley's friends and relations - but being with Ashley proved hard to bear.

"He was very chauvenistic in his attitude and he just couldn't see women as equals.

"He wanted a woman to be just like his mum and be there to cook his meal at night.

"And he loves telling women he is a millionaire so the only types he ever meets are gold-diggers," she said.

Nicola found it difficult to continue with the show when she had made it clear she would never have feelings for Ashley.

So after a week she left his sheep farm - and ended up staying for another four months with his cousin's daughter in Perth.

"I had a great time with her - even though Ashley kept ringing me all the time - and I also became good friends with another girl from the show.

"It was a unique experience and I have no regrets about taking part in the show. It didn't quite turn out as I had hoped but I have made some good friends," she said.

Desperately Seeking Sheila, Monday night, ITV1, 11pm.