THE couple who have been chosen to marry live on breakfast television are in Cyprus getting ready for their big day.

Bolton barber Darren Foster and his bride Sam Lilley will be filmed getting married on GMTV on Friday.

Darren and Sam flew out on Saturday to meet legal requirements to marry on the Mediterranean island.

They will be married by the Rev Marvin Bamforth, the Anglican priest in the resort of Paphos, in St George's Chapel, near Paphos, between 8am and 9am.

The couple will surrounded by 18 family members for the ceremony - as well as millions of viewers at home.

Sam said: "I am really excited. I expect I will be nervous on the day like most people are, only I will be getting married in front of loads of television viewers."

As GMTV's wedding of the year couple, Sam, from Hollins, Bury, and Darren, from Radcliffe, have had every aspect of their big day chosen by viewers through phone-ins on the ITV1 show. Viewers have selected everything from the menu and the outfits to the flowers and location.

Most recently viewers chose Sam's hair and make-up, selecting the traditional "hair up" look for Sam.

"I was really pleased with the hair and make-up that was chosen," she said. "I will be wearing extensions so it will feel as if I've got long hair.

"To be honest, I am really pleased with everything that has been chosen for us. We've liked all the options viewers could have chosen from, so we are very happy."

Darren's best man will be Clive Powers, who lived opposite him when they were children. They have known each since they were six. Sam will have three bridesmaids and her maid of honour will be her sister, Geraldine.

There is a "George" theme to the whole event as the ceremony will be in St George's Chapel, while the wedding breakfast and reception will be held at the St George Hotel.

Sam and Darren's fathers are called George and the man who will make the cake is George Thrasivoulides.

Make-up will be done by Manchester-born GMTV make-up artist Armand Beasley, and hair by British Hairdresser of the Year, Mark Hill. Ian Stewart, who made the wedding dress, is also from Manchester.

GMTV will be previewing the wedding tomorrow and catching up with the last-minute arrangements. On the day of the wedding the show will be broadcasting a number of live slots from Cyprus from 7am.

Darren and Sam have been together for five years and engaged for three, and they say they are inseparable.