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Eddie the Eagle Takes His Underdog Act to Christmas Pantomime

The 1988 Olympic cult figure now monetizes his legacy through a comic stage role that riffs on his ski‑jumping image.

Overview

  • Michael Edwards, 62, appears as Professor Crackpot in a Beauty and the Beast pantomime at the Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth, his second turn in the seasonal format.
  • The production works in his Olympic persona with onstage skiing in a replica Calgary suit and a tongue‑in‑cheek medal presentation.
  • Edwards has added acting to a portfolio built on public speaking, reality TV, and renewed visibility from a 2016 biopic.
  • He earns roughly £3,000 to £12,000 per speaking engagement, income that has helped recover from a poorly managed trust and a 2016 divorce.
  • His competitive career ended after the FIS introduced the 'Eddie the Eagle rule' raising eligibility standards, and he has since had lens implants that replaced his trademark thick glasses.