A man who looks so much like Robbie Williams that he once fooled Liam Gallagher into thinking he was the real deal has revealed how he ended up marrying one of the real-life singer’s backing dancers.
Former plumber Tony Lewis, from Leigh in Greater Manchester, has been performing as Robbie’s lookalike since 2001 after he won a karaoke competition singing ‘Let Me Entertain You’ in a Blackpool pub.
Since then, he’s spent his days performing around the world as a Robbie Williams tribute act – charging between £750 to £900 for a 60-minute set – and he’s even met the singer twice along the way.
Tony, 43, has not just had a successful career that’s created plenty of opportunities – he also went on the marry one of Robbie’s backing dancers.
Former plumber Tony Lewis, from Leigh in Greater Manchester, won a karaoke competition in a Blackpool pub in 2001 and says he hasn’t looked back
‘In a way, Robbie has not just given me a career – he’s also shaped my life and my family’s lives as well,’ Tony, from Leigh, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
The ex plumber met dancer Shelina when performing in a competition on BBC show The One and Only in 2018 as Robbie.
After the two connected, he soon learned she had previously been a backing dancer for the singer – including in a Brits performance and several music videos.
Tony said: ‘I was really interested in her so got her number to keep in contact, and after a lot of grafting she eventually agreed to go on a date with me.
‘We’ve now been married for 12 years and have two kids together, one girl called Marnie and a boy called Rudi.
Tony with Robbie; he’s met his doppelganger twice, and ever pranked him on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway
After appearing on The One and Only in 2018 as Robbie, he met dancer Shelina, who appeared at the Brits with the Angels star
‘Without Shelina as his backing dancer, maybe we’d have never met and my life wouldn’t be the same.’
It’s not just Tony’s family which has been shaped by Robbie Williams – he’s also made a two-decade-long career as his tribute with plenty of amazing experiences.
He said: ‘My Robbie tribute act started after I performed ‘Let Me Entertain You’ in a karaoke competition in this bar in Blackpool.
‘It was on a football tour with the lads, there was about 800 people in the bar.
‘After my performance, I won the competition and I was approached by someone to see if I wanted to make a career out of it.
His work has taken him all over the world, and he can command nearly £1,000 a gig
He says of the star: ‘In a way, Robbie has not just given me a career, he’s also shaped my life and my family’s lives as well.’
An early meeting between the two; he said they discussed football, women and music
‘I didn’t really look like him necessarily, but back then Robbie wore Adidas tracksuits and he loved football and women – which is something I could resonate with.
‘I was originally a plumber but gave up this job to go full-time as Robbie, and I was so grateful my boss accepted this and gave me the opportunity.
‘Through my career I’ve had so many opportunities and travelled across the world, performing in different cities around the globe.
‘Recently I’ve just been performing on a P&O cruise ship in Spain. Earlier this year I performed in Australia and New Zealand. Likewise, I’ve also performed in many Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Norway.
‘Robbie’s music travels so well and he is adored around the world.’
Tony has met his idol twice over the years, and received support and advice from the star on both occasions.
Taking off a more recent look of Robbie’s; the tribute act has been working for more than 20 years as a Robbie impersonator
He added: ‘I met him on Channel 4 back in 2005 after he’d just released another album.
‘He was so nice and pleasant, asking what I thought of the album and my favourite track. My favourite things at the time were football and women so those topics came up well.
‘I also met him a few years ago when I was booked to prank him on Saturday Night Takeaway. It was great to see him again. He’s always been very supportive giving me shoutouts and advice.’
Tony also shared the reactions he gets from the public over the years as Robbie – as well as celebrities who have managed to mistake him for the singer.
He said ‘I’ve had a mixture of reactions while out and about. Most people just say ‘Oh you’re that Robbie Williams guy’. Other people just call me Robbie.
Meeting Olly Murs; Tony says he hasn’t regretted handing in his notice as a plumber for a minute
With Ant, Dec and Robbie on Saturday Night Takeaway after he was asked to appear on the show
‘Once in a bar toilet in London and I bumped into Liam Gallagher.
‘He was so stunned and thought I was Robbie at first, this was around the same time they’d had beef with each other. It was amazing to talk to him as I’m a massive Oasis fan and we’re both Manchester lads.
‘Of course, I’ve had the odd bit of stick online like people creating memes saying ‘when you order Robbie Williams from Wish’.
‘It never bothers me because I find stuff like that funny. I’ve had a lot of support from Robbie’s fans because I think people understand I’m paying tribute, and not copying him.
The impersonator says he’s had ‘a lot of support from Robbie’s fans because I think people understand I’m paying tribute, and not copying him’
Tony admits his kids find his job strange, saying his son goes to school telling the teachers and his friends that ‘my dad is Robbie Williams!’
He says he’d struggle to handle the level of fame that Robbie has – and admitted his kids don’t really get their dad’s job.
‘It was hard explaining it to the kids – I think the night they finally understood was when Robbie performed on X Factor.
‘They were watching the screen and kept looking back at me, then the screen again, and then it clicked. However my son does go to school telling the teachers and his friends that ‘my dad is Robbie Williams!’
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