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Simon Cowell’s lookalike even has the TV star stumped!

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Cape Town - In his slick black aviator sunglasses, crisp white shirt and casual jeans he looks every inch the British celebrity.

And making the resemblance even more uncanny is Andy Penfold’s salt-and-pepper stubble and neatly combed hair.

Andy looks so much like Simon Cowell, he’s managed to make money off it.

He’s worked with several big UK brands such as Thornton’s Chocolate and Kerry Foods.

"When I was in Hollywood, we found Simon’s house and I stood outside for a picture," he says. "A tour bus drove past, and you could hear the narrator say, 'Jeez, Simon’s outside.'

"At that point people at the back of the bus went mad with flashing cameras which was so funny."

It all started in 2014.

imon Cowell (Photo: Gett/Gallo Images)

Andy was backstage at the Isle of Wight festival to watch the English rock band Republica perform, as he’s friends with the lead singer.

He’d forgotten his sunglasses and had to buy a new pair of Ray-Bans. When he put them on, people flocked to the 54-year-old to tell him he bore a striking resemblance to Simon.

Andy, a window cleaner, was encouraged to send a picture to a lookalike agency. They signed him and he’s been attending numerous charity events as the music and talent show judge ever since.

"A lady actually stopped her car in the middle of the road, shouting out ‘Simon!’ and she came towards me wanting a photo. Bless her; she was shaking like a leaf," he recalls.

"She only realised at the last minute I wasn’t him but wanted a photo anyway."

He’s since been asked to feature in a music video with the band Rouge Kiss who were contestants on the X Factor, on which Simon has been a judge since 2004.

Andy was also invited to the set of Britain’s Got More Talent (BGMT) where he met Simon – who was shocked by their resemblance – and the other judges.

He’d never tried to emulate Simon’s style before, but when he discovered how similar they looked, he made more of an effort to keep up with the music executive’s outfits.

"When I’m out on, let’s say, official bookings, I slightly adjust my hair. Basically, the canvas is there; I’m just enhancing it," he says.

"Fortunately, the way Simon dresses is quite easy to follow. I do have jeans slightly altered for looks, and once I had a suit made in Thailand based on his which I wore on BGMT."

Not surprisingly, not all reactions have been positive, but Andy says this doesn’t bother him one bit.

“You still get the odd, 'Why would you want to look like him?' But you just let it go over you," he says.

"I think he’s an absolute gent. He does a lot for so many people that goes unnoticed. He’s genuine person."

 Source: Magazine Features

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