A singleton who bought a massive roadside billboard appealing for a girlfriend has thanked the men and women who have written to him from the ‘bottom of his lonely heart’.
Mark Rofe, 30, from Sheffield, decided to pay £425 for a 3M x 6M billboard advertising himself, after noticing that all his friends were in long-term relationships or getting married while he remained single.
The massive sign which appeared last week in Manchester features a photo of him lounging on his side and says: ‘Single? Date Mark. This could be the sign you’ve been waiting for’.
Appearing on This Morning, he told how ‘over 1,000 people’ have applied to date him – although specified that while he’d flattered by all attention, he is a ‘straight guy’ and hopes to find a woman to settle down with.
Mark Rofe, 30, from Sheffield decided to pay £425 for a 3m high and 6m wide billboard (pictured) advertising himself
Mark (pictured) told that he set up the advert after he noticed all his friends were getting married while he was struggling to get a date after trying every online app
He told: ‘The reaction has been insane, I can’t believe it.
‘I’ve had over 1,000 people apply. I’d like to thank everyone of those from the bottom of my lonely heart, I can’t believe it.’
When quizzed on what his type is, Mark clarified: ‘A girl, half the applications have been men. I probably should have specified.
‘I’m a straight guy, but I’m flattered by all the applications that I’ve had.’
Appearing on This Morning today, he told how ‘over 1000 people’ have applied to date him – although specified that he is a ‘straight guy’ and hopes to find a woman to settle down with
Mark, who has been single for over a year and insisted he’s tried ‘every online dating app’ says his ideal person would be anyone ‘brave enough to apply to some idiot’ that plastered his face on a billboard.
He teased: ‘I think my ideal person is anyone whose brave enough to apply to some idiot whose put his face on a billboard.
‘I think someone whose fun, has a sense of humour, intelligent and there has to be some sort of attraction there.’
Mark, who is 6ft and said his ideal woman is Maya Jama,previously told he bought the billboard to stand out from the crowd.
He had launched a website – datingmark.co.uk (pictured) – where applicants get in touch and has launched a crowdfunding website for more billboards
Mr Rofe hopes to raise enough funds to purchase more in Dublin, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Sheffield, Portsmouth, Bristol, and London. Pictured is his website
He said: ‘I’ve been single for a little while now, and many of my friends are married or in long term relationships.
‘I’ve tried the dating apps, but they just weren’t working for me, so I decided to try something a little bit different to try and stand out.’
The billboard went up on Fairfield Street in the centre of Manchester last Wednesday, and was predicted to be seen by around 462,000 drivers a week.
He said he placed it in Manchester because it is one of the largest cities in the UK, near where he lived and has the highest footfall in the region.
Mark has been single for over a year and hopes to find a woman who is ‘intelligent’ and has a good sense of humour
Mr Rofe, who jokes he has kissed ‘over three’ women, works in marketing but insists his campaign is totally legitimate.
Mark describes himself as ‘extremely handsome and modest’.
He had launched a website – datingmark.co.uk – where applicants get in touch and has launched a crowdfunding website for more billboards.
Mark hopes to raise enough funds to purchase more in Dublin, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Sheffield, Portsmouth, Bristol, and London, should his first not lead to love.
He added: ‘If at first you don’t succeed, buy more billboards?’