ITV1 dating show Mr Right has proved a huge anti-climax, ending with the winning female contestant deciding to reject her "dream man" prize.

After six weeks of battling with her rivals, Jeannie Marie Beebe, a US accountant living in London, turned her back on the so-called perfect eligible bachelor Lance Gerrard-Wright on Thursday.

Ms Beebe, 28, decided Mr Gerrard-Wright, 36, was not being sincere when he chose her over her remaining rival, viewers' favourite Nicola Browning.

The bizarre finale brought the curtain down on the show that had seen a big poster marketing campaign positioning it as a celebration of girl power and the next hit reality TV show.

But after beginning in a peak 2100 slot, it was moved later and later, ending up at 2300 and pulling an average 1.5 million viewers.

We were given the chance, we all made the most of the situation but not everything always ends in roses

Mr Right, Lance Gerrard-Wright

Fifteen women originally took part to win the chance of dating Mr Right, but were gradually eliminated by London-based Mr Gerrard-Wright after taking turns at going out with him.

At the same time as the multiple dating, the contestants had to occupy the same house.

At the close of the series, fronted by Ulrika Jonsson, Ms Beebe told Mr Gerrard-Wright: "I think you've chosen me because you have to choose someone."

'Shocked'

One consolation for the women contestants throughout the series was that they could choose to reject Mr Gerrard-Wright at any stage.

Ms Beebe told him: "I couldn't see how I was special to you in comparison with everyone else."

Ms Browning had been favourite to win

After she was rejected, London-based Ms Browning, 30, suggested Mr Gerrard-Wright had not shown enough attention to the woman he finally chose.

"It was too little too late and he's paid the price for that," she said. "But I wasn't his first choice and I'm nobody's second choice."

Mr Gerrard-Wright - currently on sabbatical from his job with the Duchess of York - said after his rejection: "It's a sadness it didn't work this time round."

A spokeswoman for the show said she thought the outcome "mirrored real life perfectly".