Moni Tivony is The One and Only... Lionel Richie
27 years old

Click here to see Moni's VT from the first live show.

Moni has been singing since he was a child. His mum was a huge soul and Motown fan and Moni has immersed himself in this music ever since.

However, despite loving the music, Moni admits that he’s never previously performed as Lionel.

Moni says, ‘I’ve never met the guy but I am a fan of Lionel’s. He’s the soul, love song king and he’s the biggest selling Motown artist of all time so that must say something.’

When Moni left school he worked for jewellers in the world-renowned diamond district of London's Hatton Garden and for the past few years he has been working as a night-time stock controller for a supermarket. Moni also performs part time in a soul vocal group.

When it comes to his girlfriend, Rejoice, he admits that she is ‘the brains of the relationship’. She is studying bio-medical science and is classically trained on the piano.

For Moni, achieving the ‘Lionel look’ will be a big part of his performance.

He says, ‘I love it! I love it! It’s like a completely different change from what I look like and it helps me come into character as well.

‘The make–up team help put a bit of magic in there. It’s a very exciting process and after seeing the transformation it was so incredible.’

As for his favourite Lionel Richie song, Moni really likes Penny Lover, Say You, Say Me and All Night Long.

Check out Moni before and after he becomes Lionel Richie here.

Lionel Richie

Singer, composer and producer Lionel Richie began his career as lead singer and saxophonist of the popular soul group The Commodores. After 12 years with the group, Lionel embarked on a solo career and in the process became one of the most successful US songwriters of the 1980s, with at least one US chart-topper per year for a record nine successive years. His 1983 album ‘Can’t Slow Down’ gave the international superstar two Grammy awards. In 1986, Lionel won an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for ‘Say You, Say Me’.

UK Number Ones: One

Best Known Track: The love song ‘Hello’, which spent 15 weeks in the UK chart.

Renowned For: Being lead singer of The Commodores, with romantic ballads such as ‘Three Times a Lady’ and ‘Easy’, and for his numerous solo hits including ‘Dancing on the Ceiling’.

Did You Know: Lionel won a tennis scholarship at university. His adopted daughter is 'Simple Life' star Nicole Richie.

Sourced from the Lionel Richie website and the following book:

D. Roberts ed., British Hit Singles & Albums, Guinness World Records, 19th edn, (Italy, Hit Entertainment Limited Company, 2006)

[The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites]