CLASSIC: Patriots, Prisoners and Plants: The World of Political Body Doubles
Summary
Hosts Ben and Noel explore the history of political body doubles, debunking myths with real examples. They discuss M.E. Clifton James, who deceived Nazis as General Montgomery’s double during WWII, and Felix Dadyev, a magician who served as Joseph Stalin’s decoy. The episode also covers Saddam Hussein’s lookalikes and his son Uday’s forced double, highlighting the extreme measures used for security and deception.
Topics discussed
Intro: The flex of having a doppelganger
Defining body doubles vs. voice impersonators
General Montgomery's WWII body double, M.E. James
Stalin's political decoys and Felix Dadyev
Saddam Hussein and Uday Hussein's body doubles
Other alleged doubles: Castro, Noriega, Churchill
Replacement convicts and listener lookalike stories
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