It’s the hottest night of the year, yet Simon Denny still manages to raise the temperature even higher as he poses for the TV Hits cameras.

 

OK, so he’s a TV star plus he’s rather gorgeous looking, but Simon Denny just wants to be treated like any other surf-loving guy. That’s why when it comes time to do this month’s front cover shoot, TV Hits decided to keep it simple, an idea that certainly met with Simon’s approval.

 

"Yeah, I felt quite comfortable tonight because I like the clothes and I thought there were really apt for the vibe of tonight, you know,” he explains. "It was a really hot, balmy night and I had hot summery, tropical Hawaii Five-O clothes on. I felt like I fitted right in there”. Quite often, though this isn’t the case.

 

"When I’ve got clothes on where I don’t really get a lot of choice in the matter, I just sit there and grit my teeth the whole time”, Simon grumbles. "I think, ‘Why do I have to wear these awful pants? I’m the one who’s gotta wear ‘em and I have to have my face in the same picture. I’d rather just wear clothes where I can be me and not Simon the funky little fashion victim with funky beads round my neck and stuff”.

 

Today’s shoot is happening at Sydney’s Bondi Beach – not exactly the most private place for someone to have their photograph taken, especially someone like Simon Denny, who’s assured of pulling in a large crowd of onlookers. Still, being a true pro (and an ex-model), Simon tries his best to ignore the growing hordes of excited or just plain curious spectators and concentrates on the job at hand.

 

"It gets me a bit”, he later confesses as we drive away from the scene of the shoot, leaving groups of sighing Simon fans in our wake. "I get a bit shy and embarrassed about it. Then it gets to the stage where it’s like, ’Shit, this is my job and this is what I do for a living’, and you can’t worry about people watching you and making judgements because then you’re never gonna stop worrying about it. If you think ‘Well, they’re just looking and they’re interested because they don’t live a life like this’, then it’s fine. If people drive past and yell something obscene then you’ve just gotta laugh and say, ‘Yeah, good comment guys, very original’. You’ve just gotta take it with a grain of salt.”

 

Simon’s modelling days produced some rather embarrassing moments too. "All the time” he laughs. "I remember one day I was so broke, I had absolutely no money and my agency rang up and said, ‘Do you wanna do a TV commercial for the (cut-price clothing store) Best & Less?’ I didn’t want to, but it was money and I had none, so I had to do it. I did mostly undies which was quite embarrassing, I tried to look away from the camera as much as possible so no-one would recognise me. Mind you, it was only on for one night, so no-one would see it again ... hopefully! (laughs).”

 

Simon’s far more credible TV performance as Sam Farrell on EStreet every week, is something that still brings him pleasure one year on.

 

"Yeah, I’m still enjoying working on EStreet,” he smiles. "I’m still learning the business and EStreet’s a really good place to start. The people I’m working with are great and I’ve certainly got no plans to leave at the moment.”

 

Sadly, Simon does have to say goodbye to TV Hits. As he drives past in the Denny-mobile, the sweet sound of Michael Jackson blasts from his car stereo and Simon nods his head to the music. It may be the hottest night of the year but Simon Denny’s having no problems staying cool!