The lecturer from Northampton who looks like Mr T

I pity the school! Meet the Mr T lookalike who won't quit his jibba jabba - lecturing students in digital media and design.

John Lashley, 34, is a visual effects consultant who lectures in digital media but in his downtime he earns a little extra from his striking resemblance to the popular A Team character.

John has even appeared as the popular character on Britain’s Got Talent and in the televised Snickers adverts but he’s never eaten a bar because he is allergic to nuts and chocolate.

John, who lives in Northampton but is originally from New York, has lectured at Staffordshire University for six years but hits the gym five times a week for over an hour and a half a time to keep himself in shape for the Mr T persona.

John is also a qualified bodyguard with a close-protection SIA certificate allowing him to work as a bodyguard in the UK.

Hair Direct, a hair-product company based in the United States, sponsor John and make him hair units to mould the perfect Mohawk for his persona.

He had to send them a cast of his skull and they created custom-made human hair unit for him. It means the bald dad-of-one can morph into Mr T at a moment's notice.

Despite the persona, John is keen to stress that it is the day-job that he loves doing.