Uxbridge Gazette

I have stopped someone’s heart on stage. I’ve been injected with venom. I want a jaw-dropping reaction

Forensic mind-reader Colin Cloud very nearly turned Spice Girl Mel B into Simon Cowell’s ‘murderer’. MARION MCMULLEN discovers what’s next for the America’s Got Talent finalist

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You’ve been called the Sherlock Holmes of entertainm­ent and the master of the unconsciou­s. Are you now conquering America?

(LAUGHS) For the last two years I’ve been with The Illusionis­ts show touring the States and I did America’s Got Talent last year.

I’ve been performing in America since I was 21. I went to LA, performed in Hollywood’s Magic Castle and learned on day one that I talked way too quickly.

I don’t want to lose my Scottish accent, but I’ve adapted and found the right pace so audiences there can understand me.

People in the UK can be a bit reserved, but over there audiences really do not hold back and right off the bat they express themselves.

How did America’s Got Talent come about?

I NEVER really in all honesty wanted to do America’s Got Talent. They very kindly asked me do to it a number of times, but I always turned them down.

Then they got in touch with The Illusionis­ts show and it felt like the boss saying ‘you’re working this Sunday.’ But from day one the TV show crew and everyone backstage were on board and so helpful.

I watched Saturday night TV in the UK and came up with an idea and I sat with all the producers, except Simon Cowell, and talked it through. I didn’t want Simon to know what I was doing. I wanted it to be a surprise for him.

Your surprise was to convince Mel B to kill Simon Cowell. What was the reaction of the TV producers?

(LAUGHS) They loved it and I was very happy with the way it all panned out. I think Mel B, in all honesty, loved it as well.

Ant and Dec murdered Simon Cowell for a comedy skit on Saturday Night Takeaway so that was very helpful.

It’s nice to surprise the America’s Got Talent judges. You want to take it to the next level. The best part was the video went online the same day as Taylor Swift was trending... and I was trending at number one. (Laughs) I took lots of screen grabs of that.

When did your interest in performing begin?

I WAS into all this as a kid. I was always interested in Sherlock Holmes and deduction. I loved learning how things work. It just fascinated me.

I was really shy and reserved as a

As a kid I was into Sherlock Holmes and deduction. I loved learning how things work Colin has been fascinated by forensics for years

kid, but I was interested in the psychology side of things, the forensic stuff.

I now love to engage as much of the audience as possible. The performanc­e is fully immersive. I want people to see there are no plants, no stooges in the audience.

How do your follow appearing on the Royal Variety Performanc­e and stunning audiences all over the world with your outrageous stunts and deductions?

I LOVE it when I get a reaction from celebritie­s like Holly Willoughby and

Phillip Schofield on TV.

They see a lot of people on the show so it’s great when you can amaze them. I’m going to be touring the UK with the best and most outrageous stunts from my last six shows. I love to do something that affects everyone in the audience.

I’ve stopped someone’s heart on stage and left them for two minutes and then brought them back and I’ve been injected with venom and then set out with an entire audience of 400 people to solve the clues and find the antidote in time. I want jaw-dropping reaction.

It’s a family show, but sometimes there is the odd-little swear word – usually from people on stage. (Laughs) I guess I have a Twilight, Black Mirror, view of the world.

How do you relax?

I FLY a lot and if I’m only in the UK for a short while I stay on US time to deal with jet lag. I like catching up with friends and family when I am home.

My life is really my work so I am always thinking of ideas. Something I see on TV could click or I hear something or see a poster and it will give me an idea.

I don’t want to tour forever, but I love creating a show and showing people something they have never seen before.

I can see a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and there are sometimes just two people in the audience... and I’m one of those people. That would not work for my show. I need an audience and luckily people come and see my shows in Edinburgh night after night.

You travel a lot to America for work. What does it say for your occupation on your passport?

(LAUGHS) It actually says ‘alien of extraordin­ary ability’ so, yes, I’m an alien. We’re talking real X Files.

TICKETS are now on sale for the Colin Cloud Live tour and he will be appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August. Go to colincloud.com for details.

 ??  ?? Mind-reader Colin Cloud
Mind-reader Colin Cloud
 ??  ?? Colin convinced Mel B to ‘murder’ Simon Cowell
Colin convinced Mel B to ‘murder’ Simon Cowell

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