Sussex drag queen Dave Lynn thought he'd landed a free holiday when he was asked to be a guest presenter on ITV holiday show Wish You Were Here.

But his trip to sunny Morocco turned out to be anything but relaxing and Dave returned home to Sussex exhausted and with new-found respect for TV hostess Judith Chalmers.

Yet Judith would be wise not to relax just yet as Dave's first attempt at television presenting revealed him to be a natural.

Now the Brighton drag artist is hanging up his wig and concentrating on his blossoming television career, which currently sees him filming for one of BBC One's most popular drama series.

Dave, from Saltdean, has been hot property in the media world since his award-winning turn on Channel 4 series Faking It, when he spent four weeks turning self-confessed macho sailor Spence Bowdler into a glamorous drag queen.

A natural performer, Dave loved the experience but found it nerve-racking allowing the cameras to film him in his private habitat.

The day after it was shown, he was asked to appear on Wish You Were Here.

He flew to Morocco at the beginning of February with Brighton-based tour operator Panorama Holidays.

For viewers who know nothing of Dave's outrageous cabaret performances in the pubs and clubs of Brighton, ITV filmed an introduction which captured him performing his drag act in the city.

Dave said: "We thought we were going to get sun but it was really hard work. We did in a week what most tourists would do in two weeks.

"But the hotels were beautiful because they've got such style out there. We went to this old village which was the smelliest place I've ever been but it was such fun and everybody was fascinated by the camera.

"I must admit I was more nervous than usual. The camera is on you and you have no script. But they told me just to talk naturally."

Although better known as a drag artist, Dave is far from a small screen virgin, having previously clocked up appearances on shows including Coronation Street.

He is now filming Silent Witness for the BBC and will soon be reunited with Spence for a follow-up to Faking It.

He said: "I think TV people are starting to trust artists like me more. I think I got Wish You Were Here after Faking It because they saw how normal I was out of drag. A lot of people are dead scared of drag queens, aren't they?

"But even some of the people I'm working with are surprised to hear that is what I do and say things like 'but you're so normal'.

"I've always done other things but I consider cabaret the biggest challenge."

Wish You Were Here will be broadcast on Tuesday at 7.30pm on ITV1.

The programme features Morocco's premier beach resort of Agadir and the charming city of Taroudant including the stunning hotel Palais Salem, formerly a Moroccan palace.

Anyone interested in travelling to Morocco for the same holiday as Dave should call Panorama Holidays on 08707 595595 or call for a free brochure on 08702 415026.