DM1ST(^30) DAILY MIRROR FRIDAY 06.09.2019
when I was growing up, it
was surreal to meet him
but it made my night.
It was even better than
meeting Harry and
Meghan!
What is the most “celeb
done since your win?
Being invited to Simon Co
party was special. There I
drink with all these celebrit
didn’t get too drunk and em
Even if I did, you couldn’t
walk like a drunk most of th
You famously fell over b
final... how have you been re
I’ve lost count of the nu
I’ve fallen over in the past y
main worry was I’d tap the wrong button
and accidentally swear in front of Harry
and Meghan. Thankfully, that didn’t
happen and I enjoyed myself on stage.
The atmosphere was amazing. It was
lovely meeting Harry and Meghan after-
wards. They told me how much they’d
been looking forward to my act, which I
found very surreal. I’ve never imagined the
likes of the Queen watching BGT before.
Have you made many famous friends?
Me and Basil Brush got on really well at
the Edinburgh Fringe last month, so I’m
assuming we’re BFFs now! But the celebrity
friend I’m most pleased about having is
Paul Chuckle, from the Chuckle Brothers.
We met after the Royal Variety and he’s
such a nice bloke. After watching him
comfortable talking to a disabled person.
I’m used to being stared at for negative
reasons, so it’s nice to be stared at for posi-
tive reasons. It’s just a shame that I had to
win a talent show to get to this point. For
most disabled people, this isn’t an option.
Has fame gone to your head at all?
I have the phrase “Don’t you know who
I am?” stored in my iPad now, does that
count? I’m joking, by the way.
The only phrases I have stored are
chat-up lines for women and boring stuff
like “Where is the nearest toilet?” and “Can
you help me put my socks on?” I have to
be careful not to get them mixed up.
What was it like at the Royal Variety?
Anyone would be nervous to be
performing in front of the Royal Family. My
horses.
She
found out it
takes me three
minutes to type “Hello, Henrietta Hunt-
ingdon-Smythe”.
Do you get any naughty fan mail?
Unfortunately, none is filthy. It’s mostly
middle-aged men sending bad jokes they
say I can use. For reference, I’m happy
writing my own and don’t need your “dad
jokes”. I’ve got my own dad to write them.
What’s the best thing about fame?
Since I won, people are engaging with
me a lot more. For the first time, they seem
ever as a comedian. I’m on a nationwide
tour and have also written a book, I’m
Only In It For The Parking. I’m always
getting stopped for selfies and
having people congratulate me.
Do audiences heckle you
more or less than before
you won BGT?
I’ve never been heckled.
I’d be interested in seeing
what would happen if I
was. That’d be a great
social experiment. Heck-
ling a disabled person
would probably be
frowned upon. I do have
comebacks just in case.
Are you far richer? What
have you splashed out on?
I’m a bit richer, yes. Just don’t
tell the Department for Work and
Pensions! I’m afraid I’m a bit too boring
and sensible to splash my cash on anything
fancy like a house with a swimming pool.
I took my family on holiday though. They
were all so supportive during BGT I
thought it would be nice to treat them...
The rest of it is still under my bed.
Are you still single? Did winning BGT
make it easier to “type” women up?
I’m still single but I am looking. I went
speed dating last week. The first girl was
posh. In three minutes I found out her
name was Henrietta Huntingdon-Smythe,
she’s 29, speaks three languages and loves
After winning
BGT I’ve got
to meet Paul
Chuckle.. oh,
and Harry &
Meghan too
EXCLUSIVE
BY JULIE MCCAFFREY
WE CATCH UP WITH COMIC LEE AS HE
A
s Lost Voice Guy, Lee Ridley had
us in stitches while he stormed
to victory in last year’s Britain’s
Got Talent, pocketing £250,000
and earning the chance to appear in
front of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
at the Royal Variety Performance.
Unable to speak due to cerebral palsy,
Lee, 38, from Consett in County Durham,
uses a communication aid – a very well-
spoken iPad – to crack his gags.
This weekend, he’s back in ITV ’s BGT:
The Champions, so we caught up with
him to find out what’s been going on...
How has your life changed since you
won BGT last year?
The experience has been amazing. I
made some really good friends by doing
the show and the reaction from the
public was phenomenal. I’m busier than
Comic’s joy at BGT win in 2018
LAST LAUGH
Harry & Meghan watch routine
ROYAL FANS
DREAM GIG Lee in Royal Variety turn
If the ventriloquist
makes final I’d be
happy for him to
put his hand up my
bum & be my voice
LEE RIDLEY JOKES ABOUT CHANCES
OF WINNING BGT CHAMPIONS SHOW