from her favourite soap opera -- by proposing marriage on television.

The only way he could make sure Miss Suzanne DeCouto would take notice was by popping the question during a commercial break.

Mr. Booth took out the TV advertising space in the middle of The Young And The Restless on Christmas Eve.

A still shocked Miss DeCouto said yesterday: "We often have arguments about how much I like watching The Young And The Restless. He must have thought this was the only way to get my full attention.

"It started with a message and then he appeared on TV on one knee and proposed to me.'' The couple were actually sitting together at Miss DeCouto's home, in Paget, watching the programme when the tele-proposal appeared.

"I just bawled,'' she said. "I had no idea. I just started to cry. I was totally, totally shocked. Of course I said yes. I had to after all that.'' Bermudian Miss DeCouto is a group island co-ordinator for Bermuda Island Cruises. Mr. Booth, a shoe cobbler at Heel Sew Quik, in Hamilton, arrived from Manchester in England four years ago.

TV PROPOSAL -- Miss Suzanne DeCouto hugs boyfriend Mr. Darren Booth after his proposal on television.