I was a £1m David Beckham impersonator, then the unthinkable happened One celebrity lookalike explained that he earned nearly £1 million as a David Beckham impersonator, but admits that he now feels "lucky to be alive" Andy Harmer, and his girlfriend of the time Camilla Eldridge, impersonated David and Victoria Beckham (Image: CHANNEL 4 ) One celebrity lookalike has admitted how his double life as a celeb persona earned him over £1 million - but has now told how he also nearly blew this total on booze, as he began to lead an unthinkable lifestyle. Andy Harmer, admitted to earning more than £1 million after he ditched his work of washing cars, aged 18, and began working as a David Beckham impersonator. For parts of his career, he worked alongside his girlfriend of the time, Camilla Eldridge, who was also the spitting image of Beckham's wife, Victoria. ‌ Andy, from Eastbourne, West Sussex, joined a lookalikes agency when he was young after people began pointing out his likeness to the famous Man Utd and England midfielder. From this, the former car wash attendant went on to live a double life and make more than £1 million over his career and as much as £75K a year. Article continues below But, speaking with the Mirror, the lookalike has since admitted how his spell as Beckham led him down an unthinkable path, confessing “when Beckham went to football training, I went to parties”. While Andy, 46, is younger than his lookalike persona, he found himself suffering a heart attack last year which has left him feeling "lucky to be alive". Lookalikes for Posh and Becks, Andy Harmer and Camilla Shadbolt (Image: Jeremy Pardoe ) ‌ He said: “A year ago, I had a heart attack and had to be resuscitated nine times and was fitted with a stent. I’d actually given up drinking eight months before, but I’m sure my heart attack was down to my rock and roll lifestyle. I was a mix between David Beckham and George Best, and I could easily drink three bottles of wine a night.” Reflecting on his time a Beckham double, Andy said: “A lot of the jobs you go to are parties and there’s free drinks flowing. And working as a lookalike can be quite daunting, especially when walking into a room with thousands of people scrutinising you. "I’d be out partying most nights, and a bit of Dutch courage helped. Red wine was my poison of choice, but to be honest, I’d drink anything. ‌ "I’d start off on red wine, but then I’d move on to double vodkas, shots, and cocktails. I drifted away into this world of parties, attention and glamour. You only realise after - it creeps up on you.” Though Andy eventually retired as a the iconic footballer's impersonator, he explained that this had not immediately cleared up his addiction issues. "When I retired as Beckham’s double, my addiction to alcohol got worse, and then we had lockdown, which didn’t help," he explained. ‌ "The problem has always been there - probably since my mum died when I was 18. The whole glamorous lifestyle and the drinking that came with it just helped me block that pain out. I’d also split up with my daughter’s mum and felt very alone and depressed. Around that time, I went on This Morning and some viewers were really cruel, saying I looked nothing like Beckham, that I was the worst lookalike ever and that I was a fat David Beckham." While Andy has now retired from his work as a lookalike, he is still connected to the industry as he runs his own successful agency for lookalikes, based in Eastbourne. Andy worked until around age 40 as a Beckham impersonator (Image: Jeremy Pardoe ) ‌ “I was around 40 when I stopped making money out of looking like Beckham,” he says. “I always knew it was something I couldn’t, and didn’t want to do forever. After Beckham retired, a lot of my football-themed bookings seemed to dry up. The next generation was more into Messi and Ronaldo. “I’ve always been quite entrepreneurial and, in a way, was looking forward to finding out what life after Beckham would be like. So, I started my agency, and when it became more sustainable, it took the place of my lookalike work.” ‌ While Andy has hung up his title as a Beckham impersonator, he believes that he may now share a lookalike status with his daughter Scarlett Rose, 11, who he believes bears a strong resemblance to Harper - the Beckhams’ 13-year-old daughter. “People say my daughter looks like Harper, but I think she’s more interested in running Lookalikes than making a living as a double for Beckham’s daughter,” he says. "It was through being a Beckham lookalike that I met her mum. I tell her if it wasn’t for BGT you wouldn’t have been born, as I met her mum when we went to Dubai with the Chippendoubles. "I feel lucky to be alive to celebrate my 46th. Every day is a bonus. When you have been so close to death, you certainly appreciate being alive. Article continues below “And I’ve had an unbelievable life - it’s been crazy!”