Along with the return of ballroom dancing to BBC One, in the form of Strictly Come Dancing, comes the daily weekday update show on BBC Three complete with Bristol's own Justin Lee Collins as its live host.

Familiar to many as the long-haired loon running the streets with an oversize polystyrene £20m in previous National Lottery commercials, Collins began his career as a stand-up comedian, mostly by accident after friends badgered him into doing a short spot at a comedy club in Bath.

After a successful first gig he quickly found himself in the finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Festival which in turn led to him being signed up to present for satellite music channel MTV.

Factual

A stint presenting various off-beat television shows such as 10 Things You Didn't Know About... took him around the world reporting facts such as how pure silicone is seven times more explosive than TNT, and what surgical implications that could have.

And that is not to mention sexual practises of men and stinging nettles that we simply cannot repeat.

But it is in his current role as the behind-the-scenes live presenter on BBC Three's daily ballroom dance show update that this former Filton College student is attracting attention.

The daily magazine format show brings viewers up-to-date with happenings behind the scenes of the flagship BBC ballroom dance show, Strictly Come Dancing, mixing celebrity interviews and comment with Justin's own distinctive brand of humour.

The greatest

Recently described by Heat magazine as "Bristol's greatest son", Collins rebuffs the title awarding it himself to actor Dave Prowse.

"My dad grew up with him in Southmead. He used to work the door on the clubs in town and he'd always let my dad and his mates in," he explained. "Forget Cary Grant, Prowse is a legend, he's Premiership."

But with his unique improvisational skills, thick Bristolian accent, and sharp wit he is certainly creating a name for himself, with some even tipping him as the "new Johnny Vaughan".

Don Ward from the legendary Comedy Store even described Justin as "the most original comic I've seen since Harry Hill".

Leading the way

A proud Bristolian, who - despite his London-based workload - still chooses to live in the city, Collins hopes his distinctive charms will blaze a trail for more West Country accents on national television.

"Well there's only me, Bill Bailey, and a handful of nurses on Casualty at the moment. We definitely need a few more."

But even when pushed he is less sure about which celebrity couple he thinks will actually win the Strictly Come Dancing final.

"I really don't know. If I was putting £5 down on the winner, I wouldn't know who to put it on I really wouldn't."

With the competition now hotting up, the floor really is still wide open for any of the couples to grab the title.

Who will eventually win the contest is far from clear and down to the eye of the judges, but if one thing is certain it is that Justin himself looks set to come out firmly in the spotlight.

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC Three daily weekdays at 20:30.