An aspiring journalist from New Malden is gearing up for the final of a national newspaper competition, with the winner landing an exclusive one-off column in The Sun.

Alex Harris, 22, is one of six finalists in this year’s Column Idol, a competition organised by The Sun and communications charity Media Trust to find the commentators and journalists of the future.

Tonight at the best-selling tabloid's offices in Wapping he will pitch his column idea – a humorous look at modern masculinity – to a judging panel consisting of Sun editor David Dinsmore, Sun columnist and presenter Lorraine Kelly and the Media Trust’s Katie Lloyd.

Alex was named as a finalist in July, and for the past two months has been working with mentor Lee Price, a former Column Idol winner and now feature writer and games editor at The Sun.

Alex, a former Hollyfield School student from Franks Avenue, New Malden, said: “It was a bit of a shock when I got the call to say I was in the final.

“I think whatever happens [tonight] it will be good anyway. Apparently they’ve mocked up everyone’s columns and we get presented with them tonight.

“The whole thing has been a very good learning curve.”

Alex, who spent two weeks at the Surrey Comet in June on work experience, said his column took a wry look at the modern young man.

He said: “I don’t think we’re very manly anymore. It used to be called metrosexuals, but I think it’s gone beyond that now.

“It’s a jokey thing about how we’re all being persecuted for not being manly enough.

“I thought I would be more nervous than I am. Maybe when I get to the offices tonight I think then I will get nervous.

“My mentor said that the editor might already have an idea who his favourite is, but the presentation is quite important to show we’ve researched the Sun enough,  so it’s still all up for grabs.”