Paul Zerdin is a British comedian and ventriloquist from London. He was the winner of the 10th season of America’s Got Talent. Zerdin made his TV debut as a magician on the BBC’s Tricky Business. Shortly afterwards, at the age of 20, Zerdin landed a two-year contract presenting the Disney-produced kids’ program Rise and Shine for GMTV. In 1996, Zerdin was the first outright winner – by over 100,000 votes – of LWT’s The Big Big Talent Show, hosted by Jonathan Ross. The experience introduced him to Nigel Lythgoe, who took Zerdin under his wing, paving the way for appearances on shows including Tonight at the London Palladium and Generation Game. He secured him a spot on the Prince’s Trust Gala Show in 1997. In the 2016-17 Christmas season he played Cinderella’s sidekick “Buttons” in the London Palladium production of the pantomime “Cinderella,” leading the Radio Times to dub him “inspired casting. His quick wit, rapport with the crowd, and astonishing skills with puppet Sam turn the often toe-curling audience participation bits (don’t sit in the front row) into genuinely hilarious moments.”