The dorky audition tape from 11 years ago that started it all for hunky TV star Jason Dundas

HE’S a hunky TV star, male model and jetsetting celeb but this is where it all began — a daggy audition filmed in a few hours at his parents’ house.

JASON Dundas is a hunky male model, television presenter and jetsetting celebrity living the dream in Los Angeles, but it all began in very humble surrounds.

This is the audition video that made the mullet-sporting youngster a star. It was shot in his bedroom at his parents’ house in Penrith, west of Sydney.

It features the then 20-year-old university student dancing to music in his room, mucking around with mates and delivering a somewhat unpolished explanation of why he should be a MTV star.

That hair ... Jason Dundas was 20 when he shot an impromptu video in his bedroom that landed him a television gig and made him a star. Picture: Supplied

While the crude tape is a world away from his polished on-air persona now, it was enough to win over executives at the Foxtel channel back in 2003.

Dundas won the MTV Search for a VJ competition and was catapulted on a road to stardom. He’s now the host of Channel Seven reality hit The Big Adventure as well as a dance reality competition in the US.

AMBITIOUS MAN: Jason Dundas sees Seven Network’s Big Adventure a stepping stone

“I was up really late doing a video assignment and I had MTV on when this ad popped up to become a host. You had to send in a video.

The big time ... Jason Dundas hosts new reality game show The Big Adventure. Picture: Supplied

“I didn’t think I’d be a host. I was the shyest kid you’ve ever met. I thought maybe they’d like my design or production skills and give me a job doing that.”

When he spotted the ad, it was late on a Friday night and entries closed two days later, so he rushed to put together his clip.

For the awkward kid who never imagined being on TV, life changed pretty quickly after that.

Runway star ... Jason Dundas is a fashion ambassador for department store David Jones. Picture: Craig Greenhill

“That was 11 or so years ago and since then I’ve been to 100 countries, I’ve hosted 600 hours of television, interviewed some of the biggest stars in the world … it’s pretty awesome.”

Tonight on Seven’s variety lifestyle show Better Homes and Gardens, Dundas returns to his family home in Penrith to show audiences where it all began.

His parents Ross and Diane spent weeks sprucing the place up for the visit, he said.

Heading home ... Jason Dundas returned to his Penrith home with a Better Homes and Gardens to see his mum Diane and dad Ross. Picture: Supplied

“They’ve been in the house since the 70s so there were a lot of renovations that were works in progress.

“Putting their house on national television prompted them to finish all those little projects pretty quickly. They repainted the lounge room and had family portraits printed to put on the walls. They redid the back lawn too. They went pretty hard. The house scrubs up well.”

Pin up boy ... Jason Dundas has come a long way from that dorky, awkward 20-year-old. Picture: Supplied

Jetsetting Jason ... when he’s not working, Jason Dundas is off seeing the world. He also worked on travel show Getaway for a time.

Dundas said the walk down memory lane was a good reminder of what became his life mantra all those years ago — if you really want to do something, make it happen.

“That audition tape and that moment in my life is the greatest of example of the need to get off your butt to make things happen and get the momentum started.”

And the video is a reminder of how much he misses having longer hair.

Blast from the past ... Jason says his original MTV audition video is still a motivator for him. Picture: Supplied

“It was almost a mullet. I miss it but I can’t grow it now because I’m a men's wear ambassador for David Jones and a mullet doesn’t cut it. I don’t think that’s in at the moment.”

King of selfies

Better Homes and Gardens airs tonight at 7pm on Channel Seven.