Prince Harry lookalike Matt Hicks has opened up about his experience of pretending to be the British royal in a new reality TV show. Matt, who lives in Exeter and cleans up oil spills for a living, was chosen to play the part of Prince Harry in dating programme I Wanna Marry Harry. The show sees 12 American girls vying to impress and win over Matt, who they believe is the eligible royal bachelor. "I couldn't believe it," said Matt on Good Morning Britain, adding that he was "absolutely amazed" that the girls fell for it.
Prince Harry (left) and Matt Hicks (right)
"I just sort of got thrown into this situation, not really knowing what to expect," he said. "It was all completely new to me so I just sort of winged it. "The longer we spent doing this process, the fewer girls were left and the longer I spent with them. So the more they wanted to know about me. They were so inquisitive, they were digging and the whole time I wasn't confirming or denying who I was." Matt, who was chosen from over 100 potential other lookalikes from Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and other countries, was given special training on how to act like Prince Harry. Throughout the series, he got to know the girls and took them out on dates in London.
Prince Harry lookalike Matt Hicks
"As soon as I met him, I immediately knew that he was the right guy for the show," said producer Danny Denton. "We were very nervous before Matt went into the house because at that point some news could come out about the real Harry which would scupper the show. I can't believe it actually came off." For the 12 hopeful women involved, Danny said that the girls came out feeling positive about having dated a royal imposter.
Prince Harry
"The Americans are obsessed by British royalty, particularly obsessed by Prince Harry," said Danny. "So for the girls that were chosen it was like a fairytale dream for them.
"And at the end of the show they all said to us, it's been an amazing experience. No one on the show didn't enjoy the experience. One of them said, 'We're all being rewarded for being unlucky in love previously.'" I Wanna Marry Harry, which has aired on Fox in the US, will hit UK screens on Wednesday 4 June at 9pm on ITV2.