Tape Face Got Talent

Silent comic to appear on American series

The Boy With Tape On His Face is to appear in the new series of America's Got Talent.

His audition for the NBC show will feature in the 11th series opener next Tuesday.

The New Zealand mime and prop act act – real name Sam Willis and now based in Essex – posted the news on his social media accounts today.

I did a thing. pic.twitter.com/LRz5BlLi3E
— Tape Face (@TapeFaceBoy) May 26, 2016

He told Chortle: 'I am very excited about the opportunities that a show like this can bring and look forward to seeing what American audiences make of my style of comedy. As for any inside information and gossip? As always my lips are sealed.'

His entry into the talent hunt follows the success of British acts in last year's competition. Ventriloquist Paul Zerdin won the series, scooping $1million and a headlining slot in Las Vegas. Piff The Magic Dragon and Stevie Starr, known as the Professional Regurgitator, also made it through to the final ten.

Simon Cowell has joined Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel as an America's Got Talent judge this year, replacing Howard Stern.

A former street performer, Willis debuted his Boy With Tape On His Face act, often called simply Tape Face, at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2008. He went on to win the Chortle best breakthrough act in 2011, the year of his Royal Variety Performance debut.

Meanwhile, Lee Nelson was ejected from Britain's Got Talent last night, thwarting his attempt to invade the stage.

Reports suggest that security stopped the comic, real name Simon Brodkin, from entering the Fountain Studios in Wembley, dressed in a burka while pushing a woman in a wheelchair.

A source told The Sun: 'Audience services were on high alert so were not taking any chances. One of the staff clocked Simon and flagged it to their boss who instantly smelt a rat. He was refused entry and sent on his way.'

Nelson's previously gatecrashed Kanye West's set at Glastonbury, Stereo Kicks' performance on X Factor, and a press conference in which he showered controversial Fifa president Sepp Blatter with bank notes.