Bolton-based Travel Counsellor Michelle Leonard is all shook up after her husband Darren found fame as an Elvis impersonator.
The couple have enjoyed a whirlwind of media attention, including an appeareance on GMTV, since Darren was invited to strut his stuff at the Travel Counsellors annual Gold Weekend in Las Vegas.
Darren – a plasterer who is widely known at Travel Counsellors for his Elvis impersonation – performed a rousingly received Suspicious Minds at the Gala Awards night, where top-performing Gold Travel Counsellors are congratulated for their efforts during the last 12 months.
His rendition so impressed the professional Vegas band who accompanied him that they urged him to pursue more gigs in the entertainment capital of the world.
Michelle, Darren and their sons will be returning to Vegas for what will hopefully be a string of performances next year.
Michelle said: “Since Darren’s performance the news has spread throughout Bolton and beyond.
“We never expected to be in the local newspapers, let alone local radio stations, national newspapers and we have even been on GMTV.
“It’s not often that someone from Bolton has the opportunity to perform on a Las Vegas stage, I’m so proud of him.”
The annual event was hosted at the exclusive five-star Encore at the Wynn, Las Vegas.
More than 70 Gold Travel Counsellors and their partners enjoyed various events including Cirque de Soleil’s Viva Elvis show, off-road tours in head-turning pink jeeps, and a once-in-a-lifetime flight over the Grand Canyon.
To become a Gold Travel Counsellor, the consultants achieved commissions totalling £56,500 or more in a 12-month period.
The Gold agents make up 10% of the company’s Travel Counsellors and account for 30% of the company’s sales.