I won the Danny Dyer lookalike contest - but I know the runner-up was robbed

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

A man who won a Danny Dyer lookalike contest has revealed that he believes the runner-up was 'robbed'.
Mike Street, 51, from Southampton, admitted his defeated rival Richard Gooch, 58, was a 'dead-ringer' for the former Eastenders star.
Mike, who is the vice president of an aerospace metals company and a hardcore Danny Dyer fan, put his victory down to channelling the 'spirit of Danny Dyer'.
He said of his closest rival: 'He was a two-bit Danny. He didn't have the swagger, which is where apparently I came into my own. It was definitely the persona of Danny that got me through.'
Speaking of how he got involved, he added: 'We just went to see all the lookalikes and hoped maybe we would spot the legend himself.
'There was no question of me ever taking part.
'It was only when we were looking and somebody approached me and said "you should enter that my daughter" that my Lucie was like, "you do need to do it, Dad, you need to do it".
'When we got there, I got roped into taking part and eventually won. It was an insane day - a mad, mad day.'
Meanwhile, runner-up Mr Gooch, 58, who makes stained glass windows, said he is up for a rematch and 'would like to beat Mike next time'.
He vowed to work on his Dyer attitude before a possible future showdown, saying: 'I'll give him his dues - he had the swagger - the Dyer confidence.'
According to Mike, it is not the first time that he has been told that he has something of a 'Danny Dyer spirit'.
He says his likeness to the actor has caused him to be stopped before at football matches, with fans coming up to him to say: 'B***** hell, you remind me of Danny Dyer!'
But he puts that down to his attitude - not his appearance.
'I'd always reply: Nice one geezer - and not think anything more of it!' he said.
'I don't personally think I look like him, all my mates and my wife keep saying that I've got a lot of similarities, but I think it's more about my persona and how I engulf the Danny Dyer image and his personality.'
Mike, who says his favourite movie is Dyer's 1999 'Human Traffic', said: 'I've grown up with him. I've watched all his movies.
'They just capture a way of life back in the 90s very similar to my own sort of growing up lifestyle.'
The real Danny Dyer was left shocked after discovering Mike was the winner of lookalike competition on Wednesday.
A host of tracksuit clad, bearded men flocked to London to take part - however it was Mike from Southampton who came out on top.
Despite striking less of a physical resemblance to the EastEnders star, Mike impressed with his outfit choice, sporting a white and maroon Sergio Tacchini jacket, akin to those by the iconic Brit donned in his 2005 movie The Business.
The actor, 48, was genuinely shocked to meet the winner as he asked: Did you nick it?'
He then joked: 'You have got the same double chin there look'.
Surrounded by a host of Dannys, the star joked: 'This is like me ageing through the years.'
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He added: 'This is a very surreal for me and I have realised how much I don't look like Danny Dyer anymore.'
Speaking to Metro at the event, Mike discussed how he believed it was his swagger that won him the title, saying: 'No one's ever told me I look like Danny Dyer, but I've lived a similar sort of childhood — working-class.'
He continued: 'I'm obviously very good-looking, very charismatic, and a geezer.'
Mike also admitted: 'I didn't expect to win in the slightest.'
Mike pipped Richard to first place, despite Richard being the former EastEnders star's official lookalike. He is actually signed to an agency thanks to his striking resemblance to the man himself.
Rocking Danny's brown beard and slicked back hair, the similarities between him and the actor, now 47, were nothing short of uncanny, yet he didn't quite bag the prize.
He added: 'This is a very surreal for me and I have realised how much I don't look like Danny Dyer anymore'
Mike pipped Richard (pictured L) to first place, despite Richard being the former EastEnders star's official lookalike. He is actually signed to an agency thanks to his striking resemblance to the man himself
Mike was jubilant in celebration after being crowned the 'Best Danny', and was pictured punching the air in front of the crowds who turned up for the occasion
Mike beat off competition from more than 10 potential lookalikes sporting Fila jackets, sunglasses, almost all with their hair slickly combed back with gel - just like the East London icon.
The Danny lookalike competition comes amid a growing global trend of celebrity doppelganger contests.
An army of budding Harry Styles doubles descended upon on the English capital late last year for a head-to-head.
Judged by a mix of notable names and One Direction super fans, competitors were encouraged to dress up in bold outfits inspired by the singer's famously flamboyant wardrobe.
The panel of judges included Ryan Lanji, a party planner known for his work on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, and the author of The Book of Harry, Bonnie McLaren.
Prizes ranged from £50 for the winner and a selection of hair products for the victor in the 'best hair' category to a six-pack of organic wine for the 'best style'.
And even the entrant unfortunate enough to be ranked as the worst Styles lookalike did not leave the event empty-handed, as they claimed a four-pack of cheap beer.
Eventually Oscar Jorneaux won the contest, a 22-year-old musician who admitted he entered for 'publicity'.
Just weeks earlier New York hosted a similar Timothee Chalamet competition, with fans left in a frenzy when the actor and boyfriend of Kylie Jenner arrived unannounced.
Flanked by bodyguards, the actor posed for photographs with his curly-haired doppelgangers - some of whom had dressed as his characters, including Willy Wonka and Dune protagonist Paul Atreides.
So impressive were the day's competitors that some fans heaped their attention onto them, mistaking them for Timothee himself.