2 weeks Ago
A clown who appears in an Oasis music video which has had more than half a billion views hopes he might be able to appear on stage with the band when they reform next year. Colin Maher, now 70, featured in the video for the smash hit Wonderwall in 1995. The single peaked at number 2 in the UK charts.
Colin was born and bred in Bognor and it was there he began his career as a clown. He created his character Dr Kiku in 1994 and started visiting youngsters at Great Ormond Street and Guy's hospitals in London . Oasis have just announced their reunion to great fanfare.
They split up in 2009 but will go on tour in 2025, news that had fans in a frenzy . The band have already added new dates because of the demand. Colin Maher created Dr Kiku in 1994 and started visiting youngsters at Great Ormond Street Hospital (Image: Colin Maher) Recalling his video gig with them, Colin said: ”At the time I was doing some work in London, coming off a string of long hours.
I nearly never even went to the call-up itself. “My friend rang me at the time and said that a production company were looking for a clown for a sort of music video. At the time heavy rock was all the rage, so I thought they’d be looking for a clown to do the typical scary-esque/playful scenes.
” To his amazement it was a call-up for Britpop anthem Wonderwall, which was to become one of the band's biggest hits. Dr Kiku on set of Wonderwall music video with Liam and Noel Gallagher (Image: Colin Maher) Colin said: ”The production company had told me that parts of the scenes would be filmed in colour but the majority would be black and white. “When I got to the shoot, I got to meet Liam and Noel.
They got on so well with everyone and were honestly great to be around. We got to spend some time just jamming when filming wasn’t going on. “At one point Liam asked me if I wanted anything from him, I pointed at his coat and said that’s exactly what I want.
He turned around and told me to “f*** off” jokingly, it was clear he could take a joke. "I'd like to have the opportunity to get up on stage when Wonderwall is playing and wave to the crowd." Colin’s clown act came about after his son became seriously ill at 14 months old.
He had a rare condition which meant he had to have his skull reconstructed. While he was at the hospital with his son, Colin decided he wanted to do something for the young patients. He started performing little magic tricks, made jokes and entertained the sick children.
'Then I became Dr. Kiku and all the kids loved the clown doctor who came to help them feel better' (Image: Colin Maher) Colin said: “I thought to myself at the time, I could something here to make the lives of these kids a bit easier whilst they are in a scary situation. Then I became Dr Kiku and all the kids loved the clown doctor who came to help them feel better.
“There is this one time I went to a hospital to do my usual Dr Kiku clown show and there was a little girl on the ward who had been in a coma for over 32 weeks. No one could wake her, I went in and did my show for 20 minutes and when it came to the end – I thought I’d do one more thing before leaving and blew some bubbles, some landed on her and popped. She woke up and her mum was absolutely in tears, picked me up and twirled me around.
It was one of the most memorable moments of my career.”.
