A CHILDREN’S entertainer has been named one of the best in the country – after trying out his latest material on his young twins.

Wyn Jones – better known as Mr Merlin – is a fixture of the enter-tainment scene in Bournemouth, taking part in the Kids Free Fun Festival every year with his sidekick Okey Dokey.

Now Moordown-based Wyn has been named Kidology UK Children’s Entertainer of the Year at a children’s entertainer convention in Wolver-hampton.

He competed against five other professional acts in front of a tough audience.

“They have tried and tested professional acts, with about 20-30 children on the front row and about 150 other children’s entertainers who sit there judging,” he said.

The ventriloquist and magician has 18-month-old twins, Bethan and Sian, and tried out some of his act on them.

“They watched for about eight or 10 minutes,” said Wyn.

Wyn’s success at Wolverhampton means he will take part against other top children’s entertainers in a major magicians’ convention in Blackpool.

“I didn’t really care whether I won or not so long as I went down well. Maybe that helped because it did mean I was a bit more relaxed,” he said.

“They seemed to like what I did and the children liked it as well. The teachers from their school said I was their favourite.”

Wyn was a bluecoat at Pontins and worked as entertainments manager at Bashley Park and Hoburne Park before turning self-employed in 1994.

In his first year, he got to the final of the Echo Startrail competition – which was won by this year’s Britain’s Got Talent finalist Steve Hewlett and judged by Amanda Holden. Wyn also performs for adults as a table magician and as a comedy magician in cabaret.

He says he was encouraged to go self-employed during the winter months.

“My agent said ‘Get yourself a kids’ show together and I can get you some work’. About three or four years later I got my dummy, Okey Dokey,” said Wyn.

“He’s just so popular with children. Everybody wants Okey Dokey. I’m happy with that – they want Okey Dokey. He’s the star.”