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Dartford daredevil Johnny Strange swaps Guinness World Record stunts for YouTube career

A recording-holding stuntman is swapping swords and fire eating for video cameras and scripts.

Dartford daredevil Johnny Strange has already realised his childhood dreams to feature in the Guinness Book of World Records, notching up numerous mentions in his many years as a showman.

Johnny Strange from Dartford carrying a barrel using his ears. Photo: Paul Michael Hughes/ Guinness World Records
Johnny Strange from Dartford carrying a barrel using his ears. Photo: Paul Michael Hughes/ Guinness World Records

Whether it be flying around the world swallowing swords, juggling chainsaws or even towing aeroplanes with his ears – it's all in a day's work for the maverick performer.

But the 31-year-old's career prospects nosedived when, like most of his colleagues in the entertainment industry, he was forced to stay home at the onset of the pandemic.

However, as his countless Guinness World Records attest, Johnny is never one to shy away from a challenge.

The stuntman has recently taken an unlikely career change and set up a YouTube channel, Unusual as Usual, where he films and shares stories about peculiar people and oddball performers.

Twice a week he showcases a different unusual figure from history, explores their life and breaks down their career.

Dartford daredevil Johnny Strange and friend Matt Gone, the most chequered tattooed person
Dartford daredevil Johnny Strange and friend Matt Gone, the most chequered tattooed person

So far, tales have included Grady Styles "The Lobster Boy" who was born with claws instead of hands, Stephen Bibrowski the "Lion faced boy" and the late Rick Genest, better known as "The Zombie boy" after he tattooed his entire body from head to toe to look like a corpse.

Johnny said: “This is just my way of being creative. I love all things different and unusual, so it made sense to me.

"I started uploading videos at the start of lockdown and although I’m eager to get back out there performing again, I think I’ll continue making videos too as I’m really enjoying it.

"Once it's safe to do so I might even ask some of my Guinness World Record holding friends if they would like to appear on my channel too.”

Friends he can draw on include the likes of Elaine Davidson "The most pierced woman in the world" and Matt Gone "the most chequered tattooed person".

And, of course, Johnny can draw on his own pool of weird and wonderful knowledge gained over a series of record-breaking stunts.

Johnny Strange from Dartford pulling aeroplane using his ear piercings. Photo: Amy Plumb
Johnny Strange from Dartford pulling aeroplane using his ear piercings. Photo: Amy Plumb

He currently holds the record for the most swords swallowed in three minutes, the fastest time to break 16 concrete blocks on the body and the most newspapers split using a bullwhip in one minute, to name a few.

In 2014, he beat the record for the most apples held in the mouth and cut in half with a chainsaw , before doubling up the record by chainsawing in half apples held in someone else’s mouth – 12 in each case.

But that's not all.

He is also the proud holder of the heaviest weight lifted by pierced ears – 21.63kg (47lb 10oz) – eclipsing his own previous best.

And if that wasn't enough he also pulled a light aircraft with his earlobes – giving him the title of heaviest weight pulled too.

Tune in to Johnny's bizarre tales of the weird and wonderful here .

The Guinness Book of Records 2021 is due for release on September 17.

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