Rivals in Romance presenter Jonaid Carrera on his nipple rings and why (although he wants one) he doesn't have a penis ring ... yet.

The show is not about him as Rivals in Romance presenter, it's more about the girls looking for love with one of two bachelors in the utterly addictive and must-see-to-be-believed local reality show on Fridays at 19:30 on M-Net Series (DStv 110). But how can you not wonder about the man's nipple rings he shows off so proudly. So (sigh) I went there with Rivals in Romance presenter Jonaid Carrera to ask about all that metal in his nipply bits.

''The first nipple ring I got was because a girlfriend of mine liked it,'' Jonaid Carrera tells me. ''She convinced me to get one. That was in 2002. The other one I got in 2007. The pain was so intense with the first one that I waited about 5 years to get the other one.''

''My nipple rings will never come out,'' he says. ''They're a constant reminder of what I went through to get them.''

So are those the only body piercings he have?
The affable reality show host who probably has the best physique of any TV presenter currently on the box, is adamant that his nipple rings are the only metal in his body that might set off the metal detectors at the airport. Although - yes - he would still like to put a little ring as well through his whatismacallit.

''I don't have a penis ring. I wish. But unfortunately they don't have rings small enough,'' says Jonaid Carrera. ''So as soon as they make a ring small enough, I can get one.'' About his nipply things he says its like an ear ring. ''Just don't get it hooked on anything - it will hurt like hell. Otherwise you're good to go.''

About his workout regimen in general he says it's all about healthy living. ''Obviously you have to practice what you preach. I preach good living. I'm a vegetarian. My goal isn't to be a muscle man but I get my proteien from other things. I exercise and eat well, it helps me to stay lean. To get me to look the way I look now, I probably trained for about a year. Now I'm in the gym to maintain it. It's about balance. It's not about a proteien diet and being in the gym the whole time,'' he says. ''It's about doing everything in balance.''

About Rivals in Romance that's entering the end phase as the first season is drawing to a close with intensely emotional episodes, he says it's a game.

''The guys are getting emotional as it gets towards the end. I have to hold myself back emotionally whether I think the girls are right for the guys or not.''

''The last thing we need is an emotional presenter. For me its very Survivor. Sorry...the tribe has voted you out, goodbye.'' About his role as Rivals in Romance presenter Jonaid Carrera says he's ''funny, a bit quirky, and hopefully I make people feel comfortable. That's my job.''

BREAKING. Tittilating television on its way as dating reality show Rivals in Romance gets a bad boy, a good guy, and 16 sexy girls.

You're reading it here first.

Rivals in Romance will have two bachelors - a black ''bad boy'' Paul Phiri (27) from Northriding, a white ''good guy'' Jonathan Klopper (36) from Lonehill, Johannesburg - and 16 eager girls who are going to be vying for their attention when this new local dating reality show starts on M-Net Series (DStv 110) on Wednesday, 21 January at 19:30.

Paul Phiri is a sales exec who describes himself as a bad boy and Jonathan Klopper is a property broker who describes himself as sporty and ''a great all-rounder whom all mothers love''. Let's say it together . . . ''Aawwh!''

The 16 girls ranging from a pole and lap dancing instructor to a girl chosen by FHM as a ''hot date'' will be smootching for love in this new TV production of 13 hour long episodes by Elemental Productions. The 16 girls will find themselves ''in pressure-cooker situations week after week'' says the producers, ''as they vie for attention''. The producers looked for bachelors and single sexy girls who are ''hungry for love'' said Shaamila Fataar, executive producer. Jonaid Carrera who sports nipple rings and model Phuti Nkomo are the sassy presenters.

The 16 girls who viewers will see in Rivals in Romance include Tracy from Lenasia; receptionist Yvonne Labuschagne; Sylvia from Soweto; Tebogo Ditini from Ga-Rankuwa in Pretoria; Terri Stander; Oweenee, a mother of two; Shoneez Sidat from Mayfair; Courtney Mndaweni from Krugersdorp; the blonde Roweena; the pole-dancing instructor Nikki Ross; Nobuhle from Meerdale; Kasifah Galant from Cape Town; Karis Woodenberg from Durban; Jody from Mossel Bay; Leigh Flowers from Cape Town and Ammena Khan from KwaZulu-Natal.

HOTTING UP! Beefy Jonaid Carrera and sexy Phuti Nkomo will be the hosts of M-Net Series' reality dating show, Rivals in Romance.

I can show them to you first - the hotter than hot bods of Jonaid Carrera and Phuti Nkomo who were just announced as the new hosts of the new, upcoming reality matchmaking show Rivals in Romance that will debut on M-Net Series (DStv 110) next year. 

M-Net Series is bringing out the big guns (literally!) with the beefy Jonaid Carrera that the channel says ''has one of the most well-sculped torsos in the entertainment industry''. He's joined by the deliciously delectable Phuti Nkomo who's just a vision of vixen sexiness all by herself.

Rivals in Romance is currently looking for contestants who want to take part in the sexy show. The closing date is 6 September. ''Rivals in Romance will illustrate that the search to find a long-time companion can also be fun and exciting,” says Phuti Nkomo. ''The show is all about love,'' says Jonaid Carrera.

And no people. You don't get to date them - contestants on the show will be dating each other.

ALSO READ: M-Net Series launching a new local dating reality series, Rivals in Romance.