Willy Wonka actor with failed experience in Glasgow complains he ‘wasn’t given the same opportunities’ as the Oompa Loompas and says he’s ashamed of the gig
The actor who played Willy Wonka in the failed ‘immersive’ experience in Glasgow has said he was embarrassed by the performance, adding he hasn’t had as many opportunities as the viral Oompa Loompas.
Parents were furious when the event in Glasgow ended early and left children in tears last month when they were given a lollipop instead of a river of chocolate.
Today, 18-year-old Michael Archibald, who played the main character of ‘Willy McDuff’, went on Good Morning Britain and said he initially applied for the job because he needed money.
He said: ‘For me this started as a small job search.
‘I live on my own and am alienated [from my family] since I was 17.
“I’m currently 18. I said I was going to go there and get a job, make money and move there for the summer, and it went downhill from there.
Michael said he thought an acting job sounded like fun and he came across the Willy Wonka experience and was intrigued by the gig.
Michael Archibald, who played ‘Willy McDuff’, went on Good Morning Britain and said he initially applied for the job because he needed money
Kirsty Paterson and Jenny Fogarty, the viral Oompa Loompas, were also on the show today
Kirsty Paterson, who played the popular orange character, went viral after a photo of her dressed in the cheap-looking outfit circulated online
The event was canceled midway on Saturday as angry mothers, fathers and grandparents demanded refunds
“There wasn’t even a chocolate bar in sight,” he added.
‘I was very ashamed. I was standing in front of all these people and a lot of people were like, ‘Wow, he’s so unenthusiastic,’ but that’s because I didn’t want to be there in the first place.”
The Oompa Loopmas went viral online for their unimpressed facial expressions at the event and their ‘cheap’ looking costumes.
Kirsty Paterson, 30, who played one of the orange characters, admitted that the attention from the failed event has given her more opportunities.
She said: ‘For me the media has been amazing, it opens doors for me that I never knew could be opened. It was my dream to always be a children’s presenter and work for charities.’
Jenny Fogarty, 25, who played another Oompa Loompa, said the response from the media attention was ‘hugely positive’.
“It’s wild, none of us could have expected this outcome,” she added.
The pair have racked up millions of views on TikTok since revealing they were in fact the two women behind the viral memes.
But Michael, who played the main character in the experience, said he hasn’t been given as many opportunities as other actors and actresses.
Families were stunned when they arrived and were greeted with an almost empty factory with a few Wonka themed props and a small bouncy castle
The Oompa Loompa outfits were cheaply branded online. Pictured: Jenny wearing the costume
‘What really sucks is that I didn’t get many opportunities out of this for myself. The documentary and all that is because people were very late in releasing videos of me and no one really reached out,” he said.
The event was canceled halfway through as angry mothers, fathers and grandparents demanded refunds. Organizers have promised to give people their money back.
Kirsty previously said that all the actors went to the pub after their experience and returned to find four police vans at the location.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said officers were called to the canceled event and ‘advice was given’.
House of Illuminati, the event’s organizers, said they would refund families within a period of 10 business days.
But Jenny says she hasn’t seen many being processed.
Kirsty said: ‘Parents came to me that day and said this is what they got their child for Christmas and I just can’t get over it and they don’t have the money back.’
Michael added that the event’s organizer has “gone completely MIA” since it took place last month.
Kirsty Paterson, 30, and Jenny Fogarty, 25, racked up millions of views on TikTok when they revealed they were in fact the two women behind the viral memes
On Saturday, Coull’s latest venture, the ‘Willy’s Chocolate Experience’, had perhaps its worst opening day ever after angry parents called the police’
In a statement on the House of Illuminati Facebook page, they said: “Today has been a very stressful and frustrating day for many and we are truly sorry.
‘Unfortunately we were let down at the last minute in many areas of our event and we did our best to carry on and persevere, and now we realize that we probably should have canceled first thing this morning.
“We fully apologize for what happened and will provide full refunds to everyone who purchased tickets.
‘We had a fantastic event planned and it just didn’t take shape as planned and for that we are really sorry, we are devastated at how this has turned out and understand the anger and frustration that everyone has had, refunds have already been issued and the rest should be in the coming days, again we really are [sic] Sorry to everyone.”