Colin Cloud
{{Short description|Scottish stage mentalist (born 1987)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Colin Cloud
| image = Colin Cloud 2023.jpg
| image_upright = 0.725
| caption = Cloud in 2023
| birth_name = Colin McLeod
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|1|9|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Harthill, Scotland, United Kingdom
| occupation = {{hlist | Mentalist | speaker}}
| years_active = 2008–present
| spouse =
| website = {{official URL}}
}}
Colin McLeod, known professionally as Colin Cloud, is a British stage mentalist from Harthill, Scotland, who describes himself as The Real Life Sherlock Holmes. In 2017 he appeared as a semi-finalist on season 12 of America's Got Talent.
Personal life
Cloud was born on 9 January 1987 in Harthill, Scotland. In a 2015 interview with stv Glasgow,{{cite web|url=http://glasgow.stv.tv/articles/309010-colin-cloud-kills-the-forensic-mind-reader-talks-new-nbc-tv-show/|title=The Forensic Mind Reader's taking Sherlock a step further|first=Nicola|last=Love|website=STV Glasgow|access-date=10 September 2017}} Cloud says that he was shy and quiet at school, and that he studied forensic investigation at university. He has stated that he has been inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, and the detective's ability to read people.{{Cite web |url=http://colincloud.com/interview/ |title=The Interview | Colin Cloud |access-date=2015-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204031935/http://colincloud.com/interview/ |archive-date=2017-12-04 |url-status=dead }}
Cloud began his career by studying a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in forensic investigation, specializing in criminal profiling, at Glasgow Caledonian University (2003-2007) https://www.linkedin.com/pub/colin-cloud/35/b52/279 {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}} before abandoning that line to pursue a career in entertainment.
Early career
Cloud joined Tree of Knowledge as a speaker in 2007. He left the company in 2013 to concentrate on developing a TV and stage career.{{Cite web |url=http://colincloud.com/whats-next/ |title=What's next? ... | Colin Cloud - Forensic Mind Reader |access-date=2015-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105012912/http://colincloud.com/whats-next/ |archive-date=2014-01-05 |url-status=dead }}
Under the name Colin McLeod, Cloud appeared as a contestant on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, where he failed to fool the judges.
In 2012, he appeared on Britain's Got Talent with positive reviews from the four judges. However, McLeod failed to make it through to the live semi-finals.{{cite web|last1=Hendry|first1=Steve|title=Former forensic scientist turned mentalist Colin Cloud wows Fringe crowds|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/former-forensic-scientist-turned-mentalist-6261940|website=dailyrecord|publisher=The Daily Record|access-date=18 March 2018|date=16 August 2015}}
In 2012, Cloud performed at the Edinburgh International Magic Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2012/06/edinburgh-international-magic-festival-review-colin-mcleod-sheer-luck/|title=Edinburgh International Magic Festival review: Colin McLeod – Sheer Luck? (****) - The Edinburgh Reporter|website=www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk|date=30 June 2012|access-date=10 September 2017}}
Career
Cloud performs both public and private shows. He has taken shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2014 to 2016.{{Citation needed|date=June 2017}}
In June 2015, Cloud joined the touring magic show, The Illusionists{{cite web |url=http://www.shaftesburytheatre.com/shows/the-illusionists |title=Shows |access-date=2015-06-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619173902/http://www.shaftesburytheatre.com/shows/the-illusionists |archive-date=2015-06-19 }} Shaftesbury Theatre. Retrieved 19 June 2015 as "The Deductionist".{{Cite web |url=http://colincloud.com/colin-cloud-joins-the-illusionists/ |title=COLIN CLOUD - JOINS 'THE ILLUSIONISTS' | Colin Cloud |access-date=2015-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619154307/http://colincloud.com/colin-cloud-joins-the-illusionists/ |archive-date=2015-06-19 |url-status=dead }}
=TV and radio=
In 2014, in collaboration with [http://donjack.com Don Jack], the partnership Prestige was established. Since then, Cloud has appeared as a guest on Michael McIntyre's Big Show, Loose Women, Steve Wright and The One Show among other TV and radio performances internationally. More recently, Colin was invited to work with the team of BBC's Sherlock - working with series creator Mark Gatiss creating support material for the Sherlock Christmas Special.{{cite web|title=Colin Cloud - NBC.com|url=https://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/credits/credit/season-12/colin-cloud|website=NBC|access-date=18 March 2018}} In 2017, Cloud was a contestant on season 12 of America's Got Talent and reached the semi-finals. He later made an appearance on the Royal Variety Performance.{{cite tweet|user=Colin_Cloud|author=Colin Cloud|author-link=Colin Cloud|number=943249555851640833|title=Being a part of @RoyalVariety was the highest of honours. Thanks to everyone for watching and the amazing comments...|date=19 December 2017|access-date=17 February 2020}} In 2019, Cloud participated in the first season of America's Got Talent: The Champions, where he was eliminated in the preliminary round. He made an appearance as a guest performer alongside season 13 winner, Shin Lim, in the season two finale on 17 February 2020.{{cite tweet|user=AGT|author=America's Got Talent|author-link=America's Got Talent|number=1227668695855616006|title=The #AGTChampions Finale = STACKED! ✨ Don't miss special guests @kiss, @travisbarker, @lindseystirling, @Kodileerocks, @ShinLimMagic, @Colin_Cloud and @SimonovaTV this MONDAY 8/7c on @nbc!|date=12 February 2020|access-date=17 February 2020}}{{cite tweet|user=Colin_Cloud|author=Colin Cloud|author-link=Colin Cloud|number=1227669945216950272|title=AGT CHAMPIONS FINALE Tune in and watch @shinlimmagic and I blow some minds with a piece from our show in @themiragelv!!...|date=12 February 2020|access-date=17 February 2020}}{{cite tweet|user=AGT|author=America's Got Talent|author-link=America's Got Talent|number=1229088050409541635|title=Do you believe in magic? ✨ You will when @ShinLimMagic and @Colin_Cloud dazzle you TOMORROW 8/7c on the #AGTChampions Finale!|date=16 February 2020|access-date=17 February 2020}} In 2024 he appeared in series 17 of Britain's Got Talent as part of Magicians Assemble, alongside Elizabeth Best, Ben Hart, and Aidan McCann.
=Stage shows=
- 2011: It's All in the Mind.{{cite web|url=http://www.edinburghspotlight.com/2011/07/review-its-all-in-the-mind-colin-mcleod-edinburgh-magic-festival/|title=REVIEW – It's All In The Mind, Colin McLeod, Edinburgh Magic Festival|access-date=10 September 2017}}
- 2012: Britain's Got Talent (series 6)
- 2014: The Colour Ham {{cite web|url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/comedy/interviews/the-colour-ham-seriously-silly|title=The Colour Ham: Seriously Silly - Comedy Interview - The Skinny|access-date=10 September 2017}}
- 2014: Colin Cloud Forensic Mind Reader
- 2015: Wild Cabaret (Glasgow)
- 2015: Colin Cloud Kills
- 2016: Colin Cloud: Exposé
- 2017: Dare
- 2017: The Illusionists Live
- 2017: America's Got Talent
- 2017: Royal Variety Performance
- 2019: America's Got Talent: The Champions
- 2024: Britain's Got Talent (series 17)
- 2024: Colin Cloud: Mastermind
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{America's Got Talent}}
{{Britain's Got Talent}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cloud, Colin}}
Category:Alumni of Glasgow Caledonian University