BINTM 2012: MSN TV has tea with the judges

Don't get me wrong, I like dabbling in fashion - but buying a brightly coloured skirt is about as cutting edge as I get. So, sitting opposite international super model Elle Macphearson in a painfully posh tea room in Claridges Hotel at the Britain And Ireland's Next Top Model launch was about as high-fashion as I have ever felt in my life.

Elle was fabulous in every sense of the word; not only did she look flawless, but she was charming, vivacious and enthusiastic about the new series of Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model, which is set to hit our screens very soon. I chatted to her about the new series of the hugely popular show (it's my personal TV guilty pleasure) and I also spent some time talking to the other judges, Whitney Port, Tyson Beckford and Julian MacDonald.

You can watch the judges being interviewed at the launch below:

I felt very sophisticated sipping tea with supermodels and fashion designers and, from what I was shown of the show, it looks like this year's competition is going to be one of the toughest yet. The new judges, Whitney (you'll know her from US reality TV show The Hills) and international male supermodel Tyson, looked like they had both settled into the show well. Elle even went as far as describing Whitney as a 'great role model' to the girls.

The new series, which is set to be shown on Sky Living on 9 July at 9pm, will see the twenty contestants competing for a contract with model agency Models 1 as well as a series of other envy-inducing prizes. Of course, the competition won't be a catwalk in the park, as the models will be subjected to some extreme photo shoots that would make even hardcore television survival expert Bear Grylls shudder with fear.

MSN TV will be revealing what the judges talked to us about nearer the time of the first episode's transmission, but until then, you can have a look at the pictures of the twenty contestants from this year's show below...