A McDonald's worker has become a celebrity among customers - by regularly bursting into song during shifts. Richard Walker, 31, first sang at the fast food restaurant five years ago and found that fans returned to ask about his next show.
The restaurant manager then offered him a permanent slot at the London Liverpool Street branch, and now he regularly belts out his tunes from behind the counter. Richard, from Streatham, said: “I sing almost every night. Sometimes just a few songs, sometimes I can go all night long - just call me Lionel Richie Walker.
“Performing is hard work but when I see surprised and happy people dancing, singing, and taking their phones out to film while they wait, I'm humbled. I never thought anybody would ever enjoy anything I did quite like this.”
The customer experience leader has been working at McDonald's since 2012, but it wasn’t until 2017 that he first showcased his talents. He offered to sing a series of songs to help raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, including ‘I Can See Clearly Now', 'Don't Worry About A Thing', and 'Three Little Birds’.
Single man Richard said: “I offered to sing inside the store, because even if I wasn't very good, the sheer oddity of someone singing over burgers would shocking enough. It would be a memorable novelty.
“Lots of people smiled, waved, donated to our charity, but I really knew I was onto something days later when people came back days later still talking about it.”
He was asked to continue his performances in a permanent slot at the busy restaurant, and has since raised over £2,000 for charity. Richard now regularly belts out Bob Marley, Bruno Mars and Luther Vandross songs for the fast food lovers
Richard said: “Some sing and dance with me, we're all energised by the customers reactions. I like to show people that there we are gifted people behind the McDonald's counter - I hope it improves the sometimes negative stereotypes of fast food workers. We are gifted human beings.”
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