Sultan Kosen Jas Lehal

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HE'S tall, dark, handsome and single and on the look-out for a wife - but unfortunately, girls, he is in London for one weekend only!

Sultan Kosen, 27, from Turkey is the world’s tallest man, standing at a record (and possibly ceiling) breaking 8ft 1ins tall.

Girls, steady yourselves, because he also has the world’s biggest hands and holds the title for the world’s biggest feet.

In his tailored suit and bespoke shoes, Sultan looks every inch the playboy. But he grew up on a tiny farm in the Turkish province of Mardin, and having been noticeably tall from the age of 10, is now 27 stone and has size 23 feet. He has normal sized brothers and sisters, and eats normal sized meals. His immense growth has been caused solely by a tumour on a nerve in his pituitary gland, meaning he produces an excess of growth hormone.

Sultan has been drawing the crowds in London – his first trip outside of his native Turkey - to celebrate pride of place in the new Guinness World Records book. Striding up Oxford Street he has stopped traffic, and caused Beatles-style mayhem on a shopping trip to House of Fraser.

He has all of his clothes specially made, but having initially been shy about his height, he has now embraced it, and is ready to wear his title with pride. When he isn’t carousing in London, Sultan enjoys riding around on the family tractor (he used to have his own motorbike but it collapsed under the strain), listening to romantic Turkish music and assisting with household chores, namely helping his mother put up curtains and changing light bulbs. He is also something of an expert computer games player, fancying himself on Xbox war and tennis games.

“I love London’s black taxis as they have so much room,” says Sultan. “I would love to find a regular car which I could fit in back home.”

Aside from a new set of wheels, Sultan is really looking for love. “I am very proud to be the world’s tallest man, as I have always wanted to travel and see the world,” he says. “But what I really need to complete me is to find a wife to start a family with.”

Sultan has snatched the title from China’s Bao Xi Shun who stands at nearly 7ft 9ins. But Sultan’s tall tale hasn’t all been about glory – he has had several operations to remove the tumour which caused his growth, a procedure which could have left him blind or paralysed.

Guinness World Records’ editor-in-chief Craig Glenday said:

“We only know of ten confirmed or reliable cases in history of humans reaching 8 ft or more. Sultan’s an imposing figure, but a gentle, quiet man who’s totally relaxed and unfazed about his unique standing in the world.”

Sultan now flies to New York where he will continue his search for a wife. Any interested ladies should note: Sultan, like all gentlemen, prefers blondes.