Ladies, meet our 2010 CLEO Bachelor of the year.
Firass Dirani, the actor who plays real life “king of the Cross” John Ibrahim in Underbelly: The Golden Mile, has been crowned Cleo Bachelor of the Year.
Dirani's popularity skyrocketed towards the end of the competition after the Channel Nine hit program went to air three weeks ago.
“It just goes to show that anything can happen when it comes to the Cleo’s Bachelor of the Year awards,” Cleo Editor Sarah Oakes said.
“We always knew Dirani would be a contender once the show aired and as we suspected, it wasn’t until the final few weeks that people had the chance to learn who he was and voted accordingly.”
Dirani will be taking home the first prize of a brand new Kia Soul3 car valued at over $27,000.
Dirani narrowly beat runner-up James Tobin – the popular Weekend Sunrise weather presenter and Channel Seven entertainment reporter who has become one of television’s busiest personalities since joining the weekend breakfast show last year. Tobin wins a trip for two to Las Vegas including five nights accomodation, return airfares, valued at $10,000. (Keep your eyes peeled in an upcoming issue of CLEO for Tobin's diary of his trip!)
Third place went to Jarod Green, creator of the cult Beached Az cartoon which became an internet sensation and is now a series on ABC television. Green is awarded a Tyagi 47 inch Plasma, valued at $1300.
The Cleo office pick was surfer and blogger Luke Cheadle, who will be taking home an Edifier Hi FI system, valued at $797.
"There is a great mix of different personalities who took out the top spots this year. The CLEO readers have spoken and they have clearly chosen someone with the perfect balance of good looks and substance," said Oakes.
Past Bachelor winners include Axle Whitehead, Andrew G, Jason Dundas and Andy Lee.
Thanks to everyone who voted – we look forward to bringing you a new group of sizzling Bachelors next year!
Related content:
Watch full-length episodes of Underbelly: The Golden Mile here
In pics: Highlights from the CLEO Bachelor party
In pics: CLEO Bachelor finalists