Dad Claims He Gets Heckled Because Of Ricky Gervais Resemblance

A man claims he looks so much like Ricky Gervais that people heckle him in the street.

Matthew Walker, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has put up with it for years since the comedian burst onto the scene with The Office back in 2001.

While working as a photographer, the 49-year-old has even heard unimaginative passers-by say: "There's David Brent taking photos."

Brilliant.

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Matthew doesn't really see it himself, but his fiancé Annette finds it amusing regardless.

Matthew said: "People always point at me and call me Ricky in a jokey way. It's been going on for years.

"I went on holiday and a Greek waiter said I reminded him of a comedian, so I immediately knew who he meant and for the rest of the three weeks, he called me Ricky and had a laugh to himself.

"I'm a photographer so people will say 'Look, they've got David Brent taking the photos,' or they'll start saying I remind them of someone and I immediately know what they're going to say.

"I don't see it myself, but Annette thinks it's great. Annette thinks it's funny when I come home and tell her someone on the tills at Sainsbury's just said 'you know who you really remind me of?'"

His apparent Gervais-likeness recently came to the attention of the man himself after his sister shared a photo of him on Twitter, which 60-year-old Gervais liked.

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What exactly this like meant is debatable: did Gervais feel like he was looking in a mirror, or was he just amused by the comparison?

Two people who definitely aren't amused by the whole thing are Matthew's daughters, 18-year-old Grace and 14-year-old Daisy, who find his viral fame rather embarrassing.

Matthew said: "The other day I was at my sister's house, and I was telling her about how some men had been taking photos of me and laughing so she took a photo of me and put it on Twitter to find out if people did think I look like him.

"Ricky Gervais liked it. My fiancé thinks it's amazing, but she doesn't see it herself and my daughters get really embarrassed.

"Teenagers, particularly girls, are always embarrassed of their dad and parents. So I guess when their friends Snapchat them and tell them their dad is all over Instagram it's going to cause an eye roll or two.

"It doesn't bother me because I think that you can't take yourself too seriously and I can't change my face."

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And while he might be a lookalike for 'a little fat man with a pug-nosed face', Matthew thinks there are worse people to look like.

He said: "I haven't had anyone come over who doesn't like him and had a go at me. I've always had positive and funny reactions, so there are worse people to look like.

"Although, he is a bit older than me, which is unfortunate."

Topics: Viral, Funny, Community, Ricky Gervais

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey