You may either love it or hate it, but Baywatch remains one of the most followed series on TV. Jenny Cohen talked to the Hendon resident (pictured below and right) who was selected to star in the series When a Middlesex University performing arts student jetted off to New York to complete a work placement with a US television company, she did not think that life could get much better.

She had little idea that, following what some would describe as a `typically New York' sequence of events, she would be making international headlines. Helen Coleshill, aged 22, is now preparing to head over to the golden sands of California to become Britain's very first Baywatch Babe.

Helen, who is originally from Cambridgeshire, moved to Hendon less than three years ago.

"I chose to study at Middlesex University because I wanted to have more than one string to my bow and this was one of the only performing arts courses that included training in related subjects, such as TV production," says Helen.

One of the university's policies is to encourage students to work abroad as part of their studies.

Helen's adventure began one sunny New York day when she discovered that the American TV programme, Baywatch, was holding open auditions in Central Park.

"It all started as a bit of a joke," says Helen, who is still in the US.

"Some friends dared me to enter the auditions, and it was a blazing day outside -- so I decided to head over and try my luck."

She joined the throngs of fame-hungry New Yorkers and prepared to dazzle them and the programme's casting team with her talents.

"All the auditionees were instructed to find a partner and act out a scene in which we would calm down an imaginary child who was lost on the beach," says Helen.

"I had been chatting to an Elvis impersonator in the queue, and he offered to be my partner. During our enactment of the scene, he took it upon himself to suggest that we sing to the child to cheer him up. Before I realised what was happening, I was accompanying him to a version of the song `Summer Loving' in front of the whole of Central Park."

Helen's impromptu performance was a hit, and she found herself chosen to don the coveted red lycra mantle of a character in Baywatch who will appear in a forthcoming episode. She is to be flown to California in August for the filming. (Elvis, unfortunately, did not make the grade.)

Helen's exploits generated a media storm in the US and England, and the publicity has led to interest from casting agents in both countries.

"It was a little overwhelming at first, especially for my mother who received calls from newspapers before I had even let her know what had happened," says Helen.

Despite her new beach-babe status, Helen has not allowed herself to be completely swept away, and is yet to plan a life-changing leap from Hendon to Hollywood.

"If this leads to something I'll be delighted, but whatever happens, I suspect that this will always be looked back on as one of the my most memorable summers."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.