A GAINFORD bus driver with a striking resemblance to Chuckle Brother Paul Elliot has given up his day job to start a career in the entertainment industry.
John Simpson was forced to take retirement after 22 years behind the steering wheel because of shoulder problems and took his last ride on March 14.
Since then he has signed up to a lookalike agency, as well as another for television and movie extras.
Mr Simpson said: “It has always maybe been in my mind about doing it but I probably wouldn’t have time to do anything about it if I was still doing the buses.”
While he has yet to land any work, his fame has spread rapidly since appearing on a popular world-wide podcast, sending his Facebook profile to 2,300 followers.
The Paul Chuckle doppelganger said: “I had had to alter the settings on my Facebook because I was getting too many friend requests. It has just gone crazy.
“I’ve altered my name and put Paul Chuckle lookalike after my name, but some people still send me a message thinking I am him. I have to let them down gently.
Mr Simpson has twice met the celebrity, the first time when he had a photograph with both Paul and his brother Barry when he met them at Darlington’s Hippodrome in 2013. At the time the resemblance between the two was not recognisable.
The pair met again last year when Paul Chuckle was doing a DJ set at Fishbourne.
Mr Simpson said: “He is a great guy, he really is. He is very approachable – just a bundle of laughs. When you are talking to him, it is as if he knows you personally.”
Mr Simpson is often called up on stage at gigs during his frequent visits to Blackpool, where he has struck up friendships with many of the performing artists.
Mr Simpson said: “I love it; it puts a smile on people’s faces. I can think of worse people I could be compared to, at least it is somebody who is quite well liked.”
