The Vardy party is over for Jamie’s postman lookalike

Name: Lee Chapman.

Age: 29.

Appearance: Jamie Vardyish.

The former professional footballer and ongoing husband of 90s delight Leslie Ash? No, another Lee Chapman.

OK, what does he do? He’s Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy’s postman lookalike.

He looks like Jamie Vardy’s postman? I know they had a big win, but that’s a tenuous link to glory. No, Chapman is a postman who looks like Jamie Vardy. He is also a diehard Leicester City fan and came to minor prominence when the team hauled him on to the victory bus to celebrate with his beloved Foxes in the wake of their Premier League triumph.

That’s nice. Yes, it was.

Is it not still? It was nice for a while. A lookalike agency spotted the photos the team posted from the bus and offered Chapman work. The Royal Mail has given him six months off to pursue the opportunity.

That is REALLY nice! He’s got a verified Twitter account with more than 3,500 followers, where he offers fans the chance to make video messages with him and posts pictures of himself in full Leicester kit with them at events. Rumours swirl about a Celebrity Big Brother appearance and UK comedy tour with other lookalikes.

Sound, hopefully lucrative, moves. But Chapman says that Vardy – and his new wife, Rebekah Nicholson, have blocked him on Twitter and Instagram.

What?! No?! Why? Vardy’s agent reportedly sent Chapman a text message warning him not to do anything that would put any of Vardy’s endorsement deals at risk.

I see. A rogue lookalike could taint the brand. Exactly.

Could it though, really? I don’t know. Vardy and his manager seem to think so.

Would a superfan since childhood really do that? You can’t be too careful.

You probably can, though. I could see a backlash forming against high-handed behaviour from footballer-suddenly-shot-to-fame to fan-who-supported-him-through-all-the-lows-as-well-as-highs. There might be one starting already actually.

Oh? Yes, a hashtag is already doing the rounds: #mardyVardy

I like it. It could do well. It is a potentially Premier League hashtag. We watch and wait. And quietly consult our lawyers and management team about a potential U-turn.

Do say: “Bit of an own goal there, Vardy, I suspect.”

Don’t say: “I actually look very like my postman. Can I take over Lee’s round?”