One of the world’s best known Chinese Elvis Presley impersonators is coming to mid Devon to help celebrate an old friend’s birthday.

Chinese Elvis is promising a little less conversation a little more action, at Cullompton’s China Orchids restaurant on November 3 and 4.

Trained in the art of theatre in the 80s, Chinese Elvis has since gone on to achieve worldwide fame, and not only in the Chinese community.

His real name is Paul Hyu and he has been a friend of Robby Ho, owner of the China Orchids, since the 1980 Edinburgh Festival, where Mr Hyu was being sponsored by the same Chinese beer company that supplies the restaurant.

Now Chinese Elvis is set to make his debut in Cullompton, appearing before diners at the restaurant on Thursday, November 3, and singing on into the next day – Mr Ho’s birthday.

Said Mr Ho: “We are so delighted to have secured Chinese Elvis. He is my friend but he is also very well known and incredibly popular. He is quite famous around the world and particularly in London.

“He is doing me a great favour in coming to Cullompton and I am sure it will be very well received.”

A trained singer, Chinese Elvis was in the cast of the West End musical Miss Saigon in 1992, in which he performed over 600 times – but the China Orchid will be no problem.

He said: “I have performed everywhere from a double decker bus to the back of a push-bike.

“ I have also been seen busking in the street. I am happy to try my magic anywhere.

“ I am not even restricted to Elvis songs – I recently sang Hava Nagila at a Jewish wedding.”

In 2008 he appeared in an Elvis-only The Weakest Link special with eight other top Elvii. He emerged the winner of the charity special, and won £5,900 for the NSPCC and his Chinese friends at the Islington Chinese Association.

More details and tickets for the night are available on 01884 33336.