Comedian Elvin Mensah filmed getting ‘emergency lockdown trim’ on London train

A man got an “emergency lockdown trim” on the London Overground to the bemusement of commuters.

Comedian Elvin Mensah, who styles himself as a mix of Rowan Atkinson and Eddie Murphy, has previously achieved viral fame as “that train guy” for his speed dating series on the Tube.

Where others see a train, Mensah sees a comedy club, using London’s rail network to surprise and entertain passengers with stunts such as having a bath, holding a fake wedding, and carting an entire DJ booth on the Underground.

For his latest video, Mensah had his barber meet him on a train at Stratford Station on the way to Liverpool Street. In the footage the comedian, dressed in his pyjamas, cooly chews a toothpick under a table complete with toaster as Bill Wither’s Lovely Day plays over a speaker on the carriage.

His barber hops on at Stratford, the pair elbow bump, and he whips out a chair for the impromptu hair cut.

Staying completely deadpan throughout the actor uses his hands to mime out his request and changes the music to TLC’s classic No Scrubs to act out a full trim and shave on the train to the delight of commuters.

The clip, captioned “Lockdown ain’t stopping me getting the trim", has been viewed 120,000 times since being posted yesterday.

The 30-year-old told the Standard: “I was trying to recreate that barbershop feel. Deadpan is my choice of comedic delivery.

"Most people say that they would crack up if they tried it so I guess it’s a skill. I find if you can keep a straight face in an absurd situation it makes it even funnier. I’m just like having my personal barber over in my house what’s the big deal?

"I thought people were struggling to get haircuts during lockdown and what would be a creative way to do it without breaking the rules. People were subdued, then inquisitive, then confused and amused.

“A lot of people online were having a go at me for not wearing a mask but I was socially distanced and humour is good for your health too.”

He added: “Not many people use the silent comedy route these days like Charlie Chaplin. People think I’m just a random guy doing things for likes and they don’t get the comedic work that goes into it.”

King Ogunremi, who is the official barber for the London Lions basketball team, said he wanted to recreate the vibe of his barbers in the carriage hurtling through east London.

Since going viral he has been inundated with messages trying to book an appointment at his barbers Kings Place in Grange Road, Plaistow.

“All the passengers were trying to form a queue to try and get a haircut", he said.

"They are really desperate over lockdown. It cheered up everyone on the train. The guy behind me in the video was asking if I had time for his own trim."

Mr Ogunremi said: “It was all make-believe. I had to tell him it was a comedy skit only, we didn’t want to leave a mess.

“That’s how it is in the barbershop we have to think about the music where everyone can vibe into it. Play some 90s bangers so everyone can relax.

“It was just as we would do in real life. I was acting my heart out.”

Instagram fans reacted to the video with joy.

One wrote: “It’s the slippers, the dancing and the going about your business for me. This cut still going to be done in this pandemic.”

Others with concern, one asked: “What happens if the train stops short? You'll have a different haircut.”

Mensah is no stranger to stunts on the tube. He gained popularity on Instagram for his “speed dating” series, in which when he pretends to be on a date with women sitting next to him.

In one he pulls out popcorn to share as he starts up “The Titanic” on his laptop. The woman next to him completely loses it when he pretends to weep.

In another, he sets up a dining table and treats a lady to tea and a whipped cream-covered biscuit before holding an umbrella over her head. The train speed dating series ultimately ended in a mock wedding on the train.

The barber added: “Elvin used to be my client, he used to live on my street. He is a close friend for around eight years.

“He came to see me one day and we were just thinking ways to spice it up and take advantage of the lockdown. We closed the shop over lockdown and keep preparing for the comeback.

“As a barber naturally we to keep hygiene levels high so I don’t understand the rules to be honest.

"We’re more organised and have been running appointments before coronavirus was a thing.

“We live in a difficult world where people want to make the most of the time.”