Liam Collins

Entertaining is something I have loved since I was young. I loved doing robotics dance routines with my brother Rob for family and friends. Rob later took our act on tour to Australia and is now one of the world’s greatest street performers. He can build crowds of over 600 people in minutes and have them in the palm of his hand. He has been mine and Richard's inspiration with the street show. I think it is important to have role models. When I was younger my role models were all in athletics though; I would watch Colin Jackson and Linford Christie videos every day after school to the point where I could recite the Barcelona commentary from David Coleman’s croaky voice! Sad I know! But I loved it, I was obsessed with athletics and it was a passion which led me to all other things I have done in life since.

My best achievement before hanging my spikes up last summer was British Champion for 110 hurdles and top 5 for 400m hurdles as a senior athlete. If it wasn’t for athletics I would never have met Richard and would never have had the drive with Richard to overcome the financial obstacles by inventing what is now Faces of Disco. I do miss it and recently I have started to do a few sessions with Richard over in Hamstead and it feels great to run again. I’m going to enter a few meetings this year and if I am enjoying it still and my body can take the strain I may make a final attempt at the Commonwealth Games next summer in India.

I studied at University in Loughborough, leaving my home town of Newcastle in pursuit of the Olympics and hopefully a degree! I got the degree and narrowly missed out on the games but had an amazing time at Loughborough meeting some great people and setting up the property company CBS Group. It’s been incredibly tough navigating our way through the recession and dancing if only for fun at weekends has always been my way of keeping positive. With the company now doing well, I am able to have more time. It has been great meeting up with Richard and many of the people including my own family whom I’ve neglected with work over the last 2 years with my head stuck into work.

I love it when they come down to visit me in London where I now live as there are so many places and things to do and when you live there you never seem to do the tourist things. The best is when my brother Rob on South Bank, and Richard is performing too and our friends and family will come down and watch and enjoy the sun before going for a meal and a few drinks reminiscing about the busking days when it all started...

My Brother Rob in action

My Brother Rob

My mum lives in Cyprus with my little sister Charlotte and my dad works in Jamaica building a port. They will be watching from a far, along with my 3 brothers, and have been supportive since day one. Both Richard and myself have been extremely lucky to have the support we have had from our families, without it we would never have achieved the things we have.

My Family: So important and supportive