Will Parfitt, 36, a male entertainer originally from London but now based in Australia, has said thousands of women flock to his shows because they believe he looks just like Channing Tatum. He is preparing to embark on an upcoming UK tour with Magic Men, starting in October in Liverpool, where many of his female admirers are expected to attend.
From topless waiter to global star
Parfitt is widely recognised as the face of Magic Men, the internationally acclaimed male entertainment show he co-founded in Australia. The show has shifted more than one million tickets worldwide, expanding from intimate nightclub performances into arena-sized productions spanning North America, Asia and Europe. Most recently, the show pulled in a record-breaking crowd of 6,000 in Oslo in 2025.
Reflecting on how his journey into stripping began years ago, he revealed he was working as a topless waiter but never imagined he would achieve such success. He was working at a local venue in Australia when somebody remarked on his appearance. He explained: "Someone started joking about the Channing Tatum thing."
Building a global brand
It was not long before he hatched a plan to develop a concept for the show, which he co-founded. He continued: "Magic Men was something that started out quite small. We were performing for around 50 to 60 people. It got bigger and bigger in Melbourne. We toured around Australia and then everything started going crazy, and then having the Channing Tatum thing - it blew it up."
When the Covid pandemic struck, performances ground to a halt, but Parfitt used the period to concentrate on building his social media presence. Since returning to the stage, the show has sold out venues across the globe. Boasting more than 15 million followers across social media and performance content racking up over two billion views, Parfitt has established himself as one of the most recognisable male entertainers on the planet.
Embracing the comparison
His journey began as a British backpacker in Australia, picking up odd jobs before being invited to perform by a nightclub promoter and subsequently helping transform Magic Men into a worldwide live entertainment brand. "It's been crazy," he added. "I was just trying to make some extra cash."
When quizzed about being likened to the Hollywood star, Parfitt said: "If he were to stand next to me, everyone would be like 'they don't look alike'. Maybe after a few drinks, you could see some sort of resemblance. You would be like 'you look like Channing Tatum'." Although he does not believe they are spitting images of each other, his supporters clearly think he makes a convincing lookalike, so he simply embraces the flattering comparison.
He does admit it has been gratifying to have cultivated his own following along the way. He said: "People bring posters with my name on now. It's been nice to see they come for me now. It's lovely to see that recognition. That's so lovely to see - that they come for me now."
He also pointed out that the show tends to defy expectations. For those yet to attend, he stressed it is nothing like the stereotypes people might have in mind. Rather, it is a highly interactive experience. "We have 32 to 50 members of the audience up on stage with us," he explained. "Oh, and our clothes come off too." For further details on tickets, visit the website.
