A Bermudian is set to sing on a hit show with a television audience of about six mllion in Britain this weekend — after he was tricked by his wife and top British comedy star Michael McIntyre.

Marvin Ford, who lives in Britain with wife Ellen, said he was stunned when a curtain dropped at London’s Theatre Royal and he was live on stage in front of an audience of 2,500.

The horse trainer and amateur actor was told he was appearing in a TV advertisement as a cowboy on a horse as a stand-in for an actor afraid of the animals, but instead had to sing on an episode of the BBC’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. Mr Ford said: “She told me they needed someone to be a body double for some guy who was afraid of horses and wondered if I would do it. I said if they were paying, why not?

“I believed her fully. Every question I asked, there was an answer. Everything was fine until I was on a horse at the show.

“They got me on the back of the horse and they had me deliver a line, which was unexpected, then all of a sudden this sound started and I was wondering what was going on.”

“When I realised I was in front of a whole auditorium, I was speechless. I’m still speechless.”

Mr Ford said Mr McIntyre appeared and asked him if he would be the “unexpected star” of the night’s show.

He replied: “Well, I’m here.”

Mr Ford added: “Even now, I’m still a little in shock that it happened but it was a great experience.”

His appearance in the live show was part of its “Unexpected Star” segment, in which members of the public are fooled into believing they are doing something else.

Ms Ford said: “I had seen a YouTube video come up on Facebook of one of the Unexpected Stars from a previous series.

“I often joke about on the ‘be on a show’ sections and I was getting annoyed with Marvin not believing in his talent, so I decided to apply.

“I wanted to do something to show how amazing he really is. I filled out the application but didn’t do anything with it. I left it for ages before finally sending it five minutes before the deadline.”

She said she was surprised to find out her husband had been selected after thousands of applicants were picked.

Ms Ford said she had to keep the secret for eight months as the show came together.

She added: “The early stuff was easy as you don’t hear from them that often whilst you are moving up the list.

“I did have to secretly get video footage and things like that to help the selection process.”

Mr Ford travelled to a fake studio in London on the day of the show and expected to act as a body double in the advertisement.

Ms Ford said: “He had wanted me to go to London with him for the filming, but I said I had to stay and break down my stepmother’s wedding.

“I couldn’t go as I had to be in the audience and not with him, so I put him on the train.

“Then I had to rush home, tell the kids what was really happening, get changed, get his mum, my dad, meet the babysitter and get back to the station for the next train to London.”

Mr Ford, who has been singing since the age of 5, left the island several years ago to advance his career in horse training.

He was a regular on the Bermuda stage, and performed in shows like The Full Monty and Jesus Christ Superstar.

But Ms Ford said her husband did not realise how talented he was.

Mr Ford added: “My mom was there, friends from Bermuda were there. My 19-going-on-20 daughter, who I had not seen in a year was there.

“It was just an incredible experience. Mr McIntyre was fantastic, and the thing is that the staff he has behind him are just amazing people.”

The episode, which also features musical guest The Vamps and stand-up comedian Jason Manford, is set to air on BBC One on Saturday at 4.20pm Bermuda time.