Posing in front of strangers in your pants isn’t everyone’s idea of fun – and to start with Darren Wilks certainly didn’t think it was for him.

Ipswich Star: Darren Wilks started training as a body builder earlier this year and will be competing at the British Championships.Darren Wilks started training as a body builder earlier this year and will be competing at the British Championships.

But now the fitness instructor has admitted to being “astounded” at how much enjoyment he gets from entering bodybuilding competitions.

Despite only taking up the sport earlier this year Mr Wilks is now making a bid for glory at the UK Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation next month.

He’s already tasted success though, picking up top prize in the Olympic tall class at the BodyPower Expo competition in May.

Describing his sudden rise to the top of the discipline Mr Wilks said he was first challenged to do it when someone told him he was in good shape.

They suggested taking part in a show but the 27-year-old said it wasn’t his sort of thing.

“I consider myself a man’s man and the thought of going on stage in a tiny pair of pants was laughable,” Mr Wilks said. “But I was astounded by how much I enjoyed the reaction and how much I’ve taken to it.

“It’s been a series of fortunate events. I gave it a go and the feedback I got from the judges and the feeling I got on the stage was unbelievable.

“It’s quite easy to get swept along with it.”

Mr Wilks, an elite personal trainer at Klick Fitness in Ipswich, said he enjoyed it partly because of experiences as a child.

“I think it stems from me being overweight as a youngster. That’s why I started exercising.

“To get that approval for me was the be all and end all. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I do.”

With the British Championships approaching fast next month Mr Wilks is training regularly to get himself in peak fitness – and give himself the best chance of winning.

“For me to come in, in my first year of competing, and to place (at the BodyPower Expo) is absolutely incredible,” he added.

“So to win (the British Championships) would be amazing.”