Journalism student dresses as bedbug for Halloween saying it was ‘very obvious’ thing to do

Dan Egg went out clubbing around east London wearing the bedbug costume. Credit: PA

A student who dressed up as a bedbug for Halloween, complete with a garlic necklace and beret, said it felt like a "very obvious" thing to do amid concerns over the insects making their way to the UK from France.

Dan Egg, a journalism Master’s student at City, University of London, went clubbing with friends around Bethnal Green over the weekend and sparked the interest of social media users with his "silly" take on a topical issue.

He said: "Every year, I try and do something vaguely topical.

"The bedbugs are apparently coming over from Paris and, given the scare, dressing up as a bedbug felt like a very obvious thing to do.

"It’s not spooky or sexy, which is the normal thing to do at Halloween, but I enjoy being a bit silly."

Mr Egg dressed as Wagatha Christie (left) and Theresa May (right). Credit: PA

Paris and other French cities reportedly dealt with bedbug infestations in September, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan saying early in October that the threat of France’s bedbug outbreak spreading to London’s public transport network was "a real source of concern".

Mr Egg’s post on X about the costume has garnered thousands of interactions.

Many people tagged friends to marvel at the ensemble or to share pictures of their own, similar outfits.

Mr Egg in his bedbug costume. Credit: PA

The bedbug impersonator said he has received mixed reactions from people who have seen him in the costume in person, including asking for photos.

"I actually went out (on Saturday night) and there were some other bedbugs as well, so clearly other people had the same idea," he said.

Mr Egg said he bought a cockroach costume and then added "various French accoutrements", including a beret, stripey top and a "necklace of garlic" to create the outfit.

Dan Egg dressed as Princess Diana in her revenge dress. Credit: Dan Egg/PA

While at the club, he said he was joined by a "few other" bedbugs, but claimed his outfit "was better".

Since 2017, Mr Egg has donned an array of outfits, including dressing up as Diana, Princess of Wales, in her "revenge" dress, former British prime minister Theresa May in fields of wheat, and Wagatha Christie.

He added: “It’s fun to see that other people enjoy the outfits as well.”

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…