Tara bags the prize in her TV dating show

But the ten contestants who signed up to Tara Palmer-Tomkinson's new reality programme were stunned when their potential trophy boyfriend was apparently snapped up - by the presenter herself.

The glamorous city girls, not to mention the viewers at home, always believed there was a genuine chance for romance if the contestants could prove themselves capable of surviving a rugged, rural life with eligible farmer Alexy Van Kimmenade.

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Open secret: Alex and Tara were an item before the show finished filming

But off-camera, the It Girl became very close to the dashing landowner - and since they stopped filming Living TV's Dirty Cows, the pair have been seen on a string of dates.

In claiming Alexy for herself, Tara is following the precedent set by Ulrika Jonsson, who started seeing Lance Gerrard-Wright while ostensibly trying to find him a girlfriend on the ITV1 show Mr Right.

The pair married in 2003 - but split two years later.

Likewise, 36-year-old reformed cocaine addict Tara was said to have been "all over" former public schoolboy Alexy while filming the eight-week series on a Devon farm.

During the show - which is still being screened on Living - the contestants took part in such countryside tasks as fishing, sheep-shearing and making jam, with Alexy - the son of Belgian countess Pinkie Le Grelle - gradually whittling them down to his favourite.

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Chantelle Minifee, 22, one of the contestants on Dirty Cows

Chantelle says the other girls never stood a chance

But, according to one contestant, they never stood a chance given the chemistry between 25-year-old Alexy and the troubled socialite.

Chantelle Minifee, 22, from Cardiff, said: "It was a bit ridiculous to be honest - from day one they were all over each other.

"They held hands and kissed, cuddled and snuggled up.

"All you could hear was 'Alexy this . ..'and 'Alexy that . ..' from her - and when some of the girls confronted him he just laughed and tried to brush it off.

"It was an open secret on the set and all the production staff were talking about Tara and her relationship with Alexy.

"I went on the show hoping to find love but Tara had bagged the only man before I even arrived.

"Tara started off being really friendly to the girls but by the end she was very standoffish.

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The couple have been on a string of dates since the show

Tara and Alex arrive at the home of Sir David Frost

Tara and Alex at the David Frost Summer Party in London

"I think it was because Alexy had to kiss the girls as part of the show and she wasn't very keen on that.

"When I asked him if he was sleeping with Tara he said he couldn't talk to me because of the show rules.

"He hid behind them for his convenience.

"It was a joke. Tara was supposed to be helping us girls find love but all along she had her eye on Alexy.

"They were inseparable off camera.

"She would kiss him on the cheek and cuddle him and hold his hand.

"They were as much of a couple as you can be.

The only thing I didn't see was inside the bedroom but the rumours on set were rife."

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Tara enjoys a drink with Alex outside a pub in Knightsbridge

Chantelle said she once overheard-Tara ordering a hamper of champagne and lobster for Alexy, and on another he arrived on set sporting a new watch which he said Tara had bought him.

She added: "On one day off, Tara and Alexy and one of his friends went sailing on a yacht. A normal girl can't compete with that."

In an interview about the show Tara said: "I really fancy Alexy... If I were ten years younger I'd have him myself."

Chantelle said Tara boasted of her exploits with celebrities such as Robbie Williams and James Blunt while on the farm.

She said: "One day I was listening to my iPod and she said, 'You know, I must have had half the men on your iPod.' She was being totally serious."

Last night Alexy denied any romance, saying: "I wouldn't say we are dating.

"We have been friends for ages and we are like brother and sister."

When asked about kissing and cuddling on set, he said: "I've no comment to make on that."

Tara's spokeswoman said: "Tara and Alexy are just good friends, there's nothing more to it than that."

And a Living TV publicist said: "As far as we are aware there was no romance between Alexy and Tara on the set of Dirty Cows."