Courtney Hayles: 2016 Mills & Boon Man of the Year
The actor and drama teacher batted off competition from around 300 other entrants
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Looking for love?
Courtney Hayles has been crowned 2016 Mills & Boon Man of the Year and, as part of his prize, he will grace the cover of the romantic publisher’s Valentine’s Day offering. Following a nationwide hunt to find a new romantic hero, the actor and drama teacher was deemed Mr Right by judges, batting off competition from around 300 other entrants.
What did he make of the decision?
Mr Hayles, from Battersea, south-west London said he was “shocked” to have been selected and spoke of his excitement at being “immortalised” on the cover of the forthcoming book, It Had to be You, by Barbara Hannay and Nikki Logan. “I'm on top of the world. My face is on a book. It's amazing,“ Mr Hayles enthused. ”Every time I look at the book, I'm still, like, 'Wow! That's me'. I can't believe it,“ he added.
It’s enough to make you go weak at the knees.
Becoming one of only a handful of black Mills & Boon cover stars made Mr Hayles feel like he was ”part of history”, he said. “I feel like I'm part of a brand. I feel like I'm part of the new step forward and I think I fit perfectly with all the other faces,“ the actor and drama teacher added.
Is he a fan of the bodice-rippers himself?
”My mum was an avid reader of Mills & Boon books. I never really understood it then, but now? I'm an old romantic and I think they hold a relevance today,“ said Mr Hayles, who also works as a motivational speaker. “Mills & Boon is still current and it will always be here. I don't think they should ever stop,” he declared.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments