Branson-alike does it by the (Face)book

JOHN BILLINGHAM turned heads as he strolled through the arrivals lounge at Shannon Airport yesterday. But the Richard Branson lookalike is used to the public attention he gets. English-born John, 53, who has a home in Killaloe, Co Clare, said: “People are all the time coming up to me and stopping me on the street.”

Now he has an opportunity to turn the resemblance to good use. He has been chosen with four other Branson lookalikes from around the world to take part in a Facebook voting competition to see who bears the closest resemblance to the founder of the Virgin empire.

John said: “Virgin has organised the lookalike competition as part of the company’s 25th anniversary. The winner and a friend will be brought to New York to take part in the big celebrations there being organised by Virgin.” He is hoping that his strong Irish links will help improve his vote.