Huddersfield's DJ Smile went viral 12 years ago but now speaks on dark side, bullying and Ibiza dream

-Credit: (Image: Gerard Binks)
-Credit: (Image: Gerard Binks)


It has been more than a decade since a video of DJ Smile rapping outside Huddersfield Job Centre went viral.

The 2012 video of DJ Smile - Huddersfield's own Michael Bamforth - has been viewed millions of times on YouTube and other social media channels. And ever since countless people have approached him in the street asking for yet another re-run of his 'in the place' freestyle rhyme.

Ten years on and DJ Smile has got a bit tired of being asked to perform raps in public, but he was happy to chat to YorkshireLive about what he's been up to and what might come next.

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He's now 54 years old and has a flat in Crosland Moor, where he enjoys countryside walks, meeting friends, cooking, watching action films and listening to music. He likes to chat about his past and says two of his heroes are the poet Pam Ayres, who he enjoyed listening to in the 1970s, and the American rapper Eminem.

And he still dreams of doing a stint as a DJ at a club on the party island of Ibiza.

DJ Smile pictured at home in Huddersfield in September 2024 -Credit:Gerard Binks
DJ Smile pictured at home in Huddersfield in September 2024 -Credit:Gerard Binks

DJ Smile revealed that becoming so well known in Huddersfield did have a 'dark side' which many people might not be aware of. He says he was 'bullied' and called horrible names which he found hurtful.

He's had a battle with mental health issues but has retained his sense of humour, often cracking jokes and seeing the funny side of things. A lot of his comments - and his raps - are too rude to repeat here.

He's focusing on getting better, he says, and is hopeful that something positive will spring from that in the months ahead.

"There's lots of famous people with mental illness," he says. "It still doesn't stop me deejaying, entertaining and cooking."

The bullying, he says, has now stopped. He still gets recognised and stopped by strangers who want to chat, film him, get his autograph and so on.

At the height of his fame, he found the attention in the street a bit tiring. He eventually stepped back from the limelight, he says, and has learned to choose his friends carefully.

He says: "I went off the boil because everybody was jumping on the bandwagon. And people were calling me names."

On being approached all the time, he said: "It's annoying sometimes. You want to get on with your day, people want you to be professional, but you might be having a bad day. You can't be unfriendly with them."

DJ Smile is currently hoping to create a DVD disc of his favourite music videos which he wants to send to various people - including Huddersfield police headquarters.

He says: "I have loads of cop friends." He admits to having had 'runs ins' with the law over the years but says the officers were 'level' with him.

DJ Smile says his short-term goal is to 'go live' on YouTube and to get himself a microphone and a laptop so he can make some DVDs of music for his friends. His first love is deejaying and he only became known for rapping after he had been asked to perform a rap outside the JobCentre all those years ago.

He's still keen on entertaining people and hasn't lost sight of his dreams, saying: "I am hoping to be in Ibiza next year deejaying."

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