To help promote National Butchers’ Week, Meat Trades Journal launched a competition to find the sexiest butcher in UK. Its aim was to provide a platform for butchery businesses to promote the trade and help to endorse the industry as a sexy and relevant career path to take.

Marcus Harrison, 22, was the winner of the competition scoring a quarter of all votes made for the 12 finalists via Facebook. He gained 490 votes – crowning him winner of the Meat Trades Journal competition on Sunday (March 20) evening.

Marcus, whose grandfather was a butcher in Ribbleton and whose dad works as a meat inspector, said: “My family can’t believe it. I’m pleased too, it’s all positive, though my mates are getting a laugh out of it.

“It’s a definite conversation starter.”

Marcus, who is now deputy manager at the butchers in Preston, Lancs., was snapped flexing his muscles while holding burgers and sausages. Marcus also works as a part-time personal trainer and has used his interest in fitness to create new products, including chicken sausages.