Australia’s Got Talent Meet the show’s hilarious Aussie face

Josh Saunders’ life changed overnight when his face was used in a TV ad without him knowing

Sitting in the audience during a taping of Australia’s Got Talent,

Josh Saunders had no idea he had caught the camera’s attention – and ultimately stole the show – with his dramatic rubber-faced expressions. But nearly two years on, AGT’S “promo guy” still gets recognised – and even has a celebrity fan!

“Adam Levine from Maroon 5 posted a photo of me on his Instagram page! That was really exciting,” says the 22-year-old dance teacher from Victoria.

Josh’s strawberry-blond hair, open mouth and wide eyes sent social media into a tailspin, inspiring memes likening him to everything from Dragon Ball Z’s Shoop Da Whoop lazer-firing face to the LOL meme and even Beaker from The Muppet Show.

‘I was sitting down for Christmas Eve dinner and my face popped up on TV’

“I still get recognised about six times a week, sometimes more if I go out on a Friday night,” Josh says. “People say to me, ‘You look like the guy from the ad.’ Then, when they know it’s me, they often buy me a drink and take a selfie with me.”

Fame came unexpectedly to Josh, who didn’t realise he was destined to become a TV and internet sensation for the Australian talent show until the promo started airing in December 2015.

“I was sitting down for Christmas Eve dinner with my parents and grandparents watching Carols By Candlelight and my face popped up on the TV,” he recalls. “We were all shocked. I remember there being a lot of shrieking.”

Despite insisting he was not a paid actor hired by Nine to pull extreme faces for the ad, Josh is determined to make “Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m a bit dramatic – that’s just how I am. I wish I got paid for it!” he says.

“Performing is something I really want to do and so I’m just trying to audition as much as I can. Hopefully this isn’t the last Australia has seen of me,” he says. the most of his 15 minutes of fame. In fact, he hopes the opportunity could launch his career in acting and dance.

Joshing around Josh is using his popularity to further his acting and dancing career. The ad that shocked Josh and his family at Christmas Eve dinner.