A woman from Accrington is preparing to tie the knot on a E4 show, which starts tonight (September 18) – but the person she is marrying is a complete stranger.  

Jay Howard, 31, is to appear on Married At First Sight, a reality series that matches couples based on scientific and sociological factors.

They then get married without ever meeting each other first.

After the ceremony and celebrations are over, true love is well and truly put to the test, as they embark on a luxurious honeymoon, before moving in with each other and the fellow couples.

Jay, a sales manager, is "known for being the funny one without trying". Her positivity and happy-go-lucky energy shines through in a group of people, the show said.

She’s not afraid to make jokes at her own expense and not a lot phases her, it added.

Single for just a few months, Jay is looking for the right person to settle down with – she’s ideally looking for a cheeky chappy and someone who can make her laugh, but has ruled out any "short" men.

Jay said: “I deserve love because I think it is my time now. I am 31 and I need to get my act together.

“On my wedding day I will be most nervous about him turning around and seeing me. I don’t want him to be disappointed.”

“I will not walk down the aisle if he is [very short]. I will fall head over heels if my husband looks like Tarzan.

“I just like a man who is rough, rugged around the edges but looks good in a suit.”

Jay says she has a lot of love to give to her mystery man.

She said: “I hope my husband is genuine, loyal, honest and straight to the point.

“I would make the perfect wife because I have a lot of love to give if it is reciprocated.

“I will love them unconditionally and I will love them back but I  can be really hard work [when it comes to] my emotions.”

A producer for the Channel 4 show said she will feature in today’s episode and others throughout the next nine weeks.

In the show relationships will be put under the microscope, by fellow brides and grooms at weekly dinner parties – as well as by the experts, at recurring commitment ceremonies, where couples choose whether they want to stay in or leave the process.

All this and more will build to a dramatic series finale: glossy, high-stakes vow renewals, in which each couple must decide if they will recommit to their partner or go their separate ways, for good.

Across the process, the couples will be matched and guided by returning experts Melanie Schilling, Paul C. Brunson and Charlene Douglas.

Married at First Sight starts tongiht on E4 at 9pm. Catch up on the Channel 4 website.