Comic to get his US break on America's Got Talent spinoff

Lost Voice Guy Lee Ridley is to be introduced to US audiences when he appearing on America’s Got Talent: The Champions next year.

The comedian will be appearing alongside fellow Britain’s Got Talent acts such as Susan Boyle, Paul Potts and dancing dog act Ashleigh and Sully when the show launches on the NBC network in January with an international line-up.

English magician Paul Zerdin and Scottish mentalist Colin Cloud will also be returning to the show, having previously made splash on the US version.

Terry Crews from Brooklyn Nine-Nine will host the show with Simon Cowell, Mel B, Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum as judges.

Cowell has previously said: ‘I have always wanted to have a competition show for the very best of the best "Got Talent" acts from around the world. The variety and the talents of the acts who enter Got Talent globally are incredible and unbelievable.’

The news comes as Ridley has been named an ambassador for disability equality charity Scope. 

He said: ‘It’s an absolute honour to be an ambassador for such a great charity. It has helped myself and so many other disabled people over the years.  So I hope to be able to give something back. It’s a nice way to end a great year."

Tracy Griffin, the charity’s marketing director, said that Ridley’s victory on Britain’s Got Talent ‘is a great example of why it’s so vital to ensure disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else to follow their dreams’.

She added: It’s vital that we confront poor attitudes to disability wherever we find them. Lee has a unique gift to use humour to challenge negative attitudes, break down barriers and bring everyone together.’

Ridley’s first book, I’m Only In It For The Parking, will be published by Transworld Publishers in May.

Published: 16 Nov 2018