'Devil finger' actor looks completely different now years after starring in iconic children's show Stupid

A child actor who previously starred in a CBBC series looks completely different years after he appeared on TV screens.

Around 20 years ago, Stupid! was a popular sketch show aimed at younger audiences and focused on King Stupid who could make humans behave stupidly using an advanced computer system.

The character was played by comedian Marcus Brigstocke in the first series but was recast with actor Phil Cornwell for series two.

It aired on CBBC between 2004 and 2007, and was set in Etherworld, a pan-dimensional realm with monarchs ruling over human behaviour.

Perhaps one of the most iconic and memorable parts of the show was the sketch which introduced a character referred to as Devil Finger.

It would see the young schoolboy point his finger towards others and begin relentlessly poking them, believing his hand was possessed by a demon.

Devil Finger then met his match with Bendy Wendy, another character in the show. Clips of the sketch and the "Devil Finger' phrase have repeatedly gone viral in recent years and are almost universally understood between audiences from the time.

Played by Travis Yates, the actor went on to perform as Billy Elliott on stage. Pictures that have resurfaced from 2019 showed him looking completely different with bleach blonde hair.

He later formed a Manchester-based band named the Bright Black and supported acts like Razorlight, and sported longer hair, but later disbanded and have not posted on social media for a number of years.

He told Buzzfeed in 2018 that he was regularly noticed and recognised from his time appearing on Stupid!.

"I still get recognised for it now, " he said. "So I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. It was only the other day that the band supporting us at a gig mentioned it!"

He went on to release solo music, with an EP dropped on Spotify in 2023, and was back as a brunette.

Now, according to his LinkedIn page, he is an electronic music DJ and producer, also working at a popular bar.

The page describes him as an 'experienced hospitality professional currently serving as a general manager for an independent bar' which is based in Manchester.