Hello Me!

There is something very scary about the thought that you may, for all your uniqueness, actually have an identical twin somewhere in the world with whom you have no familial or other link whatsoever.

The term Doppelganger refers to this phenonema which, through popular fiction and in particular the horror genre, has come to take on a very sinister aspect.

I remember the offerings of The House of Hammer in the 1970's which featured the nightmare scenario of being pursued ,tormented then supplanted by something with your own face and physique but otherwise, hopefully, no real depth of character or personality.

Science Fiction movies were also strong on frighteners of bodysnatchers and clones or where aliens just morphed into your skin and took over your life.

I have, on occasion, attracted a second glance from a passer-by who thought I was Alan Titchmarsh or Harry Enfield but if actually accosted on the street and asked about it I know it is the time to go on a serious diet and health drive.

I was once, but admittedly with no real commitment on their part, told that I could make a bit of extra income as a celebrity look-a-likey as the aforementioned celebrity gardener and presenter but only if I could find a buxom, ginger woman to make up the old televison double act.

There is ongoing debate as to whether there is such a thing as a Doppelganger and if so is it just coincidence or a matter of scientific proof.

To this end , three University Students in Dublin, Eire recently started a challenge between themselves to find what they called "Twin Strangers".

The task involved using the internet to track down and make contact with potential candidates and all to be done within one month.

Scientists in the forensic and facial recognition sphere are of the opinion that the existence of Doppelgangers is highly unlikely although we may feel a close affinity to others because of the way the brain perceives facial features. Others may not see any resemblance at all because we all process main facial features in a different way.

Bombarded with thousands of submissions from all over the world the Twin Strangers Project realised one match at the halfway point and to date three more females have been contacted.

The project has excited considerable media interest and is sure to continue to do so for many years to come as the thought of a Doppelganger both thrills and scares in equal proportion.

 https://youtu.be/L4jv1Vafpgo