LIFE took an abrupt right-angle turn for Mike Lewis the day he was told to wear glasses.

All of a sudden this 50-something boss of a Kidderminster printing firm, well known in his home town as assistant district commissioner for Scouts, turned into Rolf Harris.

As he walked down the street, youngsters would nudge each other and say: "Hey look. There's that Rolf Harris bloke off the telly".

Even people he had known for years looked twice.

"My wife still can't see it", he laughs. "But she's too close to me. Just reckons it's her husband in specs."

Which he is, of course, but Mike certainly fools a lot of other folk now.

Although he still has the day job, many of his nights and weekends are spent appearing as a lookalike for everyone's favourite Australian.

He's even met Rolf - at a charity day in Stourport last Summer - and passed the close-up test with flying colours.

"The only shock was to find he's 14 years older than me", said 53-year-old Mike, one of the most popular lookalikes on the books of Kidderminster agency Upfront Entertainment. Yet for years he had existed happily as Mike Lewis, married to Maria, with two children and a passion for scouting. Singing songs round the campfire he never thought one day he would be chanting along to the sound of a wobble board, warbling about kangaroos, didgeridoos and some sheila called Matilda.

"It all changed when the doctor said I needed glasses", Mike explained.

"I'd had the beard for about 30 years and no-one had ever thought I looked like Rolf Harris before.

"But when the glasses went on, that was it.

"I think the first time was when I was walking down the street and I overheard some children arguing whether or not it was Rolf Harris.

"Of course, to them he's the chap who presents the animal programmes on television. They don't associate him with singing or painting huge pictures on walls."

Mike has now invested in his own show The Didgeridoo Karaoke Crew, which he takes out several times a week as his alter ego.

"I can't believe how well it's gone, especially at the colleges and universities.

"The students really get into it. They know what they're getting, of course, but they come up and shake your hand and say things like 'G'day Rolf' or 'Good on yer, sport'.

"They're brilliant audiences. I've never had anyone accuse me of being an imposter, as it's a bit of fun. Anyway, I won't be giving up the printing!"