DREAMS have come true for a Chingford teenager who will be travelling the world as part of an online reality show.
Dave Brett, 18, of Chingford Mount, beat thousands of other people to become a contestant on Gap Year, which will be shown on the social networking website Bebo.
Gap Year, produced by Big Brother creators Endemol, features six young people from the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the US, who will each go on a separate five-month journey to surprise locations across the world.
Dave sent in a video explaining why he likes travelling and he impressed the judges so much that he made it through to the last two.
He and his opponent Georgie, from Oxford, were filmed in Oxford Circus when they were informed that Dave had won the all-expenses-paid adventure.
He said: "My immediate reaction was to jump up and down and to keep telling random people I was going around the world. They must have thought I was mad.
advertisement
"After six months of waiting I can't believe I have finally got it."
Dave, who lives with his father Mark and younger brother Edward, joked: "My family are shocked and can't wait to get rid of me. They are over the moon."
Originally Dave thought the Gap Year contestants would be able to choose their destinations.
But now the programme's makers have decided to surprise the contestants by picking the route but not telling them about it.
Dave said: "It is more exciting this way, because you don't know what to expect and can't prepare yourself."
The journey will be filmed by a one-man camera crew.
Dave, a Harlow College leisure and tourism student, has travelled to countries including Ireland and Germany, regularly sleeping on the sofas of people he has met through website Couchsurfing.
In return visitors from the UK stay on his sofa.
The jet-setter developed a love of travelling and meeting people through scouting and he is a Network Scout at the Chingford and District Network Scout group.
Pasa Mustafa, head of digital studios at Endemol said: "Dave's passion for travelling was evident from his very first audition video.
"His research and knowledge of his dream travel routes were so intricate we could tell he really wanted this. We know that Dave will last the duration and make every viewer feel a part of his journey."
Posted by: sue ross, harlow on 11:57am Sun 11 May 08
well done David enjoy every moment I know you will. The family are very proud of you but will miss you while you are away. Lots of love gran[italic]italic[/italic]
well done David enjoy every moment I know you will. The family are very proud of you but will miss you while you are away. Lots of love gran
Posted by: Mr Khalid, walthamstow on 4:06pm Mon 12 May 08
why is boy go wasted the time do this? must get the jobs and pay the taxeded becose he meybe go just go drink the alcool and go discos and meybe dangros for he is finded the snaks and the algates and bad parsons atack he and make famly worred?
why is boy go wasted the time do this? must get the jobs and pay the taxeded becose he meybe go just go drink the alcool and go discos and meybe dangros for he is finded the snaks and the algates and bad parsons atack he and make famly worred?
[quote][bold]Mr Khalid[/bold] wrote:
why is boy go wasted the time do this? must get the jobs and pay the taxeded becose he meybe go just go drink the alcool and go discos and meybe dangros for he is finded the snaks and the algates and bad parsons atack he and make famly worred?[/quote] Mr Khalid - I am one of Dave's Scout Leaders and I am proud that he has been chosen for the Gap Year - at least he is doing something with his life - not like you commenting on every story on here - take some advice and go get yourself a job!
Mr Khalid wrote:
why is boy go wasted the time do this? must get the jobs and pay the taxeded becose he meybe go just go drink the alcool and go discos and meybe dangros for he is finded the snaks and the algates and bad parsons atack he and make famly worred?
Mr Khalid - I am one of Dave's Scout Leaders and I am proud that he has been chosen for the Gap Year - at least he is doing something with his life - not like you commenting on every story on here - take some advice and go get yourself a job!
Posted by: Mr Codgers, Snaresbrook on 9:51am Thu 15 May 08
These kids waste their time sponging off the parents and then off the Government for useless 'media' courses and the like and then have so called gap years to 'go travelling' which is a glorified drug, drink and sex tour in some of the most exotic places in the world at other peoples expense. They should be out working with their bare hands and learn how hard it is to live and all the idiotic Scout leaders and Parents encouraging this madness are doing them a complete disservice!
These kids waste their time sponging off the parents and then off the Government for useless 'media' courses and the like and then have so called gap years to 'go travelling' which is a glorified drug, drink and sex tour in some of the most exotic places in the world at other peoples expense. They should be out working with their bare hands and learn how hard it is to live and all the idiotic Scout leaders and Parents encouraging this madness are doing them a complete disservice!
Mr Codgers,
I and I am sure many others take great offence at your ill thought out comments. Dave is a million light years away from a drug, drink and sex case you describe, he is fact an amazingly talented and thoughtful caring person who has fought personal challenges to arrive where he is today. As for your attack on such an amazing institution as the Scouts, what harm do they do apart from instill decent morals in a society starved of such ideals. I suggest you cast your jealousy aside and join in our celebration of Daves amazing forthcoming adventure, you might even feel better with yourself for it! Dave, I salute you mate.
Mr Codgers,
I and I am sure many others take great offence at your ill thought out comments. Dave is a million light years away from a drug, drink and sex case you describe, he is fact an amazingly talented and thoughtful caring person who has fought personal challenges to arrive where he is today. As for your attack on such an amazing institution as the Scouts, what harm do they do apart from instill decent morals in a society starved of such ideals. I suggest you cast your jealousy aside and join in our celebration of Daves amazing forthcoming adventure, you might even feel better with yourself for it! Dave, I salute you mate.
Posted by: Romanov Kjinski, Redbridge on 6:25pm Thu 15 May 08
[quote][bold]Rob Ross[/bold] wrote:
Mr Codgers, I and I am sure many others take great offence at your ill thought out comments. Dave is a million light years away from a drug, drink and sex case you describe, he is fact an amazingly talented and thoughtful caring person who has fought personal challenges to arrive where he is today. As for your attack on such an amazing institution as the Scouts, what harm do they do apart from instill decent morals in a society starved of such ideals. I suggest you cast your jealousy aside and join in our celebration of Daves amazing forthcoming adventure, you might even feel better with yourself for it! Dave, I salute you mate. [/quote] Hey hang on a minute. We all now the terrible history of some Scout Masters so dont go on bigging them up mate! What with the RAF bloke recently getting prison for sodomy as well, you are over stating how grand these organisations are. I wouldnt put kids through any of these things. You only need one dodgy one to ruin a kids life!
Rob Ross wrote:
Mr Codgers, I and I am sure many others take great offence at your ill thought out comments. Dave is a million light years away from a drug, drink and sex case you describe, he is fact an amazingly talented and thoughtful caring person who has fought personal challenges to arrive where he is today. As for your attack on such an amazing institution as the Scouts, what harm do they do apart from instill decent morals in a society starved of such ideals. I suggest you cast your jealousy aside and join in our celebration of Daves amazing forthcoming adventure, you might even feel better with yourself for it! Dave, I salute you mate.
Hey hang on a minute. We all now the terrible history of some Scout Masters so dont go on bigging them up mate! What with the RAF bloke recently getting prison for sodomy as well, you are over stating how grand these organisations are. I wouldnt put kids through any of these things. You only need one dodgy one to ruin a kids life!
Posted by: Nikki,Chris and Sharan (6 doors away from dave!), Chingford on 7:25pm Thu 15 May 08
Well done David! so happy 4 u,, if anyone in the world deserves something like this its u! i dont no whats wrong with some people posting pathetic negative comments! there all just JEALOUS!!!!!! GO DAVE!!! show the world what a small town in east london is made of! hehe xxx
Well done David! so happy 4 u,, if anyone in the world deserves something like this its u! i dont no whats wrong with some people posting pathetic negative comments! there all just JEALOUS!!!!!! GO DAVE!!! show the world what a small town in east london is made of! hehe xxx
Posted by: Old Git (few more doors away.com), Chingford on 8:06pm Thu 15 May 08
[quote][bold]Nikki,Chris and Sharan (6 doors away from dave!)[/bold] wrote:
Well done David! so happy 4 u,, if anyone in the world deserves something like this its u! i dont no whats wrong with some people posting pathetic negative comments! there all just JEALOUS!!!!!! GO DAVE!!! show the world what a small town in east london is made of! hehe xxx[/quote] Hope he doesn't come back as a ladyboy
Nikki,Chris and Sharan (6 doors away from dave!) wrote:
Well done David! so happy 4 u,, if anyone in the world deserves something like this its u! i dont no whats wrong with some people posting pathetic negative comments! there all just JEALOUS!!!!!! GO DAVE!!! show the world what a small town in east london is made of! hehe xxx
Posted by: Granny Chris even more doors away, Cingford E4 on 10:17pm Thu 15 May 08
Congratulations David! Ignore all the negative comments from the old codgers and have a ball! your only young once and it looks like you've already achieved more in your 18 years than alot of people will in their whole lifetime so enjoy every minute good or bad. Stay safe and send your mum a postcard as she is very very proud of you! Good luck Chris Mark Jody and Jordan x
Congratulations David! Ignore all the negative comments from the old codgers and have a ball! your only young once and it looks like you've already achieved more in your 18 years than alot of people will in their whole lifetime so enjoy every minute good or bad. Stay safe and send your mum a postcard as she is very very proud of you! Good luck Chris Mark Jody and Jordan x
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
