A WESTON model who appeared on one of the ‘most awkward episodes’ of ITV dating game show Take Me Out, has spoken out about how much negative comments from fans have affected him and his family.

Damion Merry moved to Milton Road with his family when he was 25 and models up and down the country for brands like Diesel.

The 27-year-old appeared on last Saturday’s show, hosted by Paddy McGuinness, as one of the bachelors hoping to bag themselves a date by presenting themselves to 30 women.

Fans of the hit series have since taken to Twitter to brand the episode as ‘the most awkward moment in Take Me Out history’.

After a warm welcome things quickly turned awkward after Damion set his sights on a woman who had already left the game and then said the two potential dates he did pick were chosen because he ‘had no choice’.

He told the Mercury: “There have been a lot of positive comments in regards to me sticking by my word, because Lucy was the girl I wanted.

“I did mess up, I did not want to hurt anyone, but I did put my foot in it.”

Damion did however leave the show with a date and scored a holiday with contestant Chelsea.

He said: “The date was painful. It ended quite positively, she accepted my apology, but it wasn’t the best of days.

“While on the show I didn’t realise it was going to come out the way that it did. The audience was laughing, and Paddy and the girls were laughing. It was uncomfortable but very theatrical.”

But behind the laughter Damion said the negative comments which have been posted by fans have had a big impact on him.

He said: “It’s affected me quite badly. These negative comments have been really tough. People have really been nasty to me and it’s upset my family and friends.”

Thing went further downhill for Damion on the show when he revealed his previous relationship was with former glamour model Jodie Marsh.

He said: “We met at the Chelsea Flower Show. At the moment she has made out that it was nothing, but it was far from that.”

The model said he does not regret appearing on the show and decided to take part because he felt he has always been unlucky in relationships.

He said: “I kept falling in love too quickly and having a bad time with relationships. I thought this would be a good opportunity to meet someone with a different type of personality who I would never have normally met.

“But since the show I’ve had modelling work coming in left, right and centre and women sending me pictures of themselves, which is different.”

Damion said he was disappointed that few of the girls concentrated on his personal video, which showed him on Weston’s beach and spending time with his family on the Grand Pier.

He said: “My sister, mum and stepdad live in Weston and we are a really close family, which is very important to me.

“I love going on the beach and relaxing, because I’m travelling so much with my job.

“For me, Weston is the best place in the country.”

Damion said he is now seeing someone new and the show has made him realise what type of person he really wants to be with.

He added: “I don’t regret going on the show, I met some fantastic people and made some good friends.”