ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Gardener Who Is Spit Of Cillian Murphy Says He's Mobbed By Men and Women

Gardener Who Is Spit Of Cillian Murphy Says He's Mobbed By Men and Women

The 47-year-old has even landed a side gig at a Peaky Blinders themed bar

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

At one time or another, everyone has wondered what it would be like to be famous. And while Peaky Blinders has a lot to answer for - the resurgence of the flat cap, for one - it has also given one man a taste of the celebrity life.

That's because gardener Scott Blower looks the absolute spit of the show's lead gangster Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy.

So much so, that the 47-year-old says he's been mobbed by fans and now gets paid to dress up as the Brum gangster and pose for photographs at the Peaky Blinders Bar in Manchester.

Scott, from Sale, Greater Manchester, said: "When some people see me they will actually scream and think it's him. When they realise it's not they calm down a bit.

"[When it first started a few years ago] big fans of his would come up to me, in a bar or something, and say you look like Cillian Murphy, and I'd never even heard of him.

Scott says he gets a lot of attention when he's out dressed as Tommy Shelby.
Kennedy News

"Then when we went to Marbella it was when Peaky Blinders was out, I was just getting mobbed. Even on the plane people thought it was him going away with his friend, so it was crazy.

"My mates loved it because we could get free beds - you know how they charge for beds and things like that over there? - so my mates would lap it up."

But whereas you might assume he uses this new-found fame to his advantage, Scott says he's not like that and always tells women that he's not the real deal.

Scott says: "I never feel tempted to act like I am actually him. I would never do that. I usually just tell them. Even when I'm out shopping with my kids, I get stopped and I'll say I'm not him.

He added: "This is blokes as well - blokes run over. I say, 'listen I'm not him' and they say, 'oh yeah' and I have to get my phone out and show them my Instagram page."

He actually met his current partner, Nicola, while he was in character.

The 47-year-old says he's always honest with women when they think he's the real deal.
Kennedy News

Scott says: "I'm glad I met Nicola now and she's accepting it so it's all fine. Obviously she does get a bit jealous, but she's not too fussed.

"She agrees I look like Cillian Murphy - I think that's why she likes me."

Nicola, 32, from Urmston, Greater Manchester, said: "I was astonished at how much of a similarity there was. I was pretty drunk as well so it was even more so and I was like 'wow', but I knew it wasn't him.

"I was definitely attracted to Cillian Murphy before I met Scott - I think everyone woman is.

"But that's definitely not the reason we're together or I like him. We definitely click on more of a personal level."

While she sees the similarity, Nicola says she's not worried about competition from other women.

He met his girlfriend while dressed as the famous gangster.
Kennedy News

She added: "I know he's really professional. When I met him that night, even though there was such a connection, he was still so reserved with me as well. So I totally trust him.

"I don't really think about it when he goes to work on a Saturday night. Sometimes I go and see him in the bar now and again. I don't mind it, I totally trust him."

But with the fifth season just around the corner, Scott says the jobs are coming thick and fast, with everyone wanting a bit of Tommy.

Scott said: "The gigs are getting better and better. The first one I did was a 1920s ball so I turned up there and got mobbed.

"It's not like Beatles-mobbing, but even at the bar [Peaky Blinders Manchester] it's crazy."

But while he does have a few links to actor Murphy, Scott says he can't do the accent for love nor money.

A gardener by trade, he says with season five on the horizon the Peaky Blinders-themed parties are coming thick and fast.
Kennedy News

"When I see [Cillian Murphy] on TV it is weird. From certain angles, it's just like looking at me. Obviously we're not identical, but it is freaky," he says.

"My gran is actually from where he's from in Cork, so that's even weirder.

"I can't do a Brummie accent. I've tried. I keep getting asked to do filming for things like parodies. Everyone says, 'you've got the same tone, you just need to do the Brummie accent and you'll smash it'.

"One of the three guys I [work at Peaky Blinders Manchester with] sounds like Alfie Solomons so he does all the talking and it's just a bit of a laugh.

"Friends and family just think it's great. I work really hard - six days a week. I mean it's back-breaking stuff what I do.

"I think they're just happy that I'm doing something that could lead to doing both jobs part-time so I'm not breaking my back every week."

Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News

Topics: TV and Film, BBC, Interesting, UK Entertainment, Peaky Blinders, Cillian Murphy, Manchester