London Bridge Experience picks its new £30,000-a-year zombies

Making a living dead: would-be zombies must impress with their costume, make-up and ability to scare visitors
Peter Dominiczak12 April 2012

They were faced with the scariest possible job interview, but today more than 60 people turned up for the chance to be a £30,000-a-year zombie at a London tourist attraction.

Managers of the London Bridge Experience decided two people were fit to play the undead.

Louie McKenna, 23, an actor from Elephant and Castle, and Jeremiah O'Connor, 26, a former archaeologist from Barnes, triumphed after proving they could scare tourists, wield a chainsaw and not be put off by working among severed heads.

The London Bridge Experience advertised for "zombies — dead or alive". It was so overwhelmed by more than 200 applications that it decided to hold an open competition.

Mr O'Connor said he was shocked when he found out he would be scaring visitors during the audition.

"It has been a crazy day. I had no idea they were going to get us scaring actual customers. It went really well though. I just can't wait to start the job now."

A panel judged the applicants on their ability to terrify customers in the catacombs.

Mr McKenna said he was surprised to get the job after being turned down for the role of a zombie by the rival London Dungeon months ago.

"The Dungeon said I was too intimidating and scary and they told me to tone down my act. Well, I didn't and now I've managed to get a job here. If it looks like people are about to faint it means I've done a good job."

He will be scaring visitors in the blood-filled butcher room or wield a chainsaw in the dungeons. The £3 million attraction has about 50 zombie workers.

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