Scot has becoming a mega hit with MAGA in US thanks to his ‘likeable' Trump impression
DEAD RINGER Scot has becoming a mega hit with MAGA in US thanks to his 'likeable' Trump impression
MIMIC Lewis Macleod has revealed how he's become a hit with Americans thanks to making Donald Trump more 'likeable' again.
The Scots copycat, who is part of Radio 4's popular long-running show Dead Ringers, saw two recent clips of him impersonating the US President receive over 22million views.
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Lewis as Trump and his "secret service".
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Lewis as he looks normally minus the orange tan.
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Dead Ringers with Jan Ravens, Jon Culshaw and Lewis has been going for quarter of a century.
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Lewis recording another episode of Dead Ringers for Radio 4.
But while Hollywood stars Jamie Foxx and Alec Baldwin have become known for their brutal Trump mickey takes, US comedy legend Chevy Chase and even Make America Great Again supporters have praised Lewis's version.
He says: 'Jamie does an excellent Trump as does Alec but they usually do him when he's bellowing statements out just before he steps on Air Force One.
'But I like to do him when he's talking normally, in that softer, more husky voice. That's the one people seem to really like. It's also where I believe you can get more laughs.
'I even got one message from a supporter in America saying I had made Trump more likeable again. Because when he is talking normally on the likes of Joe Rogan's podcast, he's a funny guy.
'I think his own supporters like to see more of that side of him.'
In one clip Lewis says as Trump, how he's going to make, 'Elon Musk the first lady and call her Elania', adding: 'Because Melania has been malfunctioning for a while. She keeps saying things like, 'I wish I'd never met you'.'
Lewis says: 'You need to keep it light like that. When it gets too critical or dark then it starts to cross the line. That's something we always want to avoid.'
In 2018 National Lampoon's star Chevy Chase gave the thumbs-up to the Scots' Trump impression when they met on ITV's Good Morning.
But Lewis actually quit playing The Donald after his last presidency ended in disgraceful scenes with the Capitol Hill Attacks on January 6, 2021.
He says: 'I stopped doing his voice and cameos right after that tragedy. I thought, 'This isn't funny anymore.'
Donald Trump stuns Glasgow punters as he dances with busker to 'Man Who Sold the World' after taking tour of Scottish Sun Christmas Shop
'He had become too divisive at the time. But when he was elected again, Dead Ringers asked me to do him again, so I was up for giving him another go.'
Lewis, 55, from Torrance, near Glasgow, started doing impressions at school before landing a regular slot on BBC Scotland's Off The Ball, mimicking the great and the good of Scottish football.
While in 1999 he provided the voice of pod-racing alien Sebulba in the Star Wars prequel The Phantom Menace.
He also played Paul McCartney in a Beatles skit on the Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse BBC sketch show Harry & Paul.
And he has had several serious acting roles too including in The Crown, where he played the headmaster of Prince Charles's school Gordonstoun and the 2022 movie The Lost King opposite Oscar-winner Sally Hawkins.
While in 2021 he portrayed This is Your Life host Eamonn Andrews in an episode of ITV cop drama Endeavour in 2021.
But it's Trump he can't escape, as he continues to be booked to appear as the US leader at corporate dos and charity events.
And Lewis, who now splits his time between homes in France with his French wife Marion and the UK, believes his 6ft 3in stature also helps him fit the bill.
He explains: 'Trump is officially 6ft 3in although there are rumours he actually lied about his height during his medical, so I may actually be an inch taller.
'Donald's mum Mary MacLeod is from Lewis and so is my family. So there's a good chance we could be related.
'But I'm also born on the Fourth of July – it doesn't get any more American than that.'
He adds: 'But the wig is very important. My one's made by Alex Rouse who makes wigs for loads of films from Harry Potter to James Bond and TV shows like Outlander and Game Of Thrones.
'So if you've got a good voice and a good wig - and being the right size - then I reckon you're on to a winner.'
The performer also became a regular on Steve Wright in the Afternoon after he was on his Radio 2 show as a guest alongside Dead Ringers co-stars including Jan Ravens, Jon Culshaw and Duncan Wisbey.
Lewis would do uncanny impressions of Steve's fellow radio host and Channel Five presenter Jeremy Vine right up until Wright's show was axed in 2022. The DJ passed away last year aged 69.
The dad of two says: 'I started doing these songs with Jeremy singing and Steve absolutely loved them.
'Then these 10 second jingles just got longer and longer until we were doing whole songs.
'I would also do reworkings of Jeremy singing Dua Lipa songs, and Steve wrote all the jokes for the verbal skits.
'He always worked at high-speed and would basically direct me in the studio. But he was a genius. That's the best way to describe him.'
AI IS BETTER THAN ME BUT NOT AS FUNNY
LEWIS knows that AI is a threat to the voiceover industry but believes that people still prefer the human touch.
A big part of the impressionists' day job is recording trailers and radio ads and promos, which he has done for three decades.
But earlier this year his fellow Scots voiceover artist Gayanne Potter claimed her voice had been cloned for ScotRail's new AI-generated announcement system against her will.
Lewis says: 'AI can mimic voices so perfectly now that it's indistinguishable from speech.
'More and more radio ad campaigns are using it, but I think the voices sound soulless and I'm not sure it connects with listeners.
'The difference is when I am in a studio I can make a suggestion, even just a subtle one.
'And directors still want to be able to give you instructions on exactly what they're wanting from your voiceover too.'
He adds: 'I mean you can get AI versions of Trump that can do him better than I will ever be able to, but again where is the fun in that?
'People still love coming to see us recording Dead Ringers and like everything about it, including when we can't stop laughing or muck up the script.
'No one wants a robot perfectly delivering lines. They want to feel part of it and have a laugh and some fun with you too, especially when you make a mistake.'
Lewis was back on Radio 2 last month (June) as a guest on Zoe Ball's new Saturday show, where he pretended to be Vine again, this time talking about the Glastonbury festival.
He says: 'Zoe asked what Jeremy would talk about at the festival and I said it would have to be all about health and safety and how to find your tent. It was great. She had me on for ages.'
And far from feeling ridiculed Jeremy, 60, has previously praised Lewis, saying his 'impersonation of me was so good it fooled even my own children'.
But Lewis believes that even the notorious touchy Trump would find his mimicry funny.
He says: 'People are always trying to do satirical sketches with Trump but how can you keep up with a man who tells the world that Israel and Iran 'don't know what the f**k they're doing?'
'Trump will continue to say things that will make everybody go, 'what the hell?'. So he owns all of that and the sketch writers can't compete.'
He adds: 'But I think you can still find the laughs in the softer kind of Trump, which is why I've chosen to do him like that.
'I honestly believe It's the kind of thing that Trump would laugh at himself.'
*Dead Ringers - The 25th Anniversary Tour will play Edinburgh Playhouse on August 17 then dates across the UK from September.
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