Give the dog a clone

For his latest trick, Las Vegas magician replaces retiring sidekick with very own doggleganger

- JAMES DESBOROUGH

SOMETHING completely new is coming to the Las Vegas Strip... although audiences may feel they have seen it all before.

British comedian and magician John van der Put knew nothing could replace his co-star, chihuahua Mr Piffles, who at 17 is ready to put his paws up.

So instead, he used his doggy DNA to create a replica of the pooch he rescued from a Dundee shelter in 2008.

Next week, Mr Piffles 2.0 will become the first cloned performer ever to appear on a Vegas stage.

John said: "It was me or Mr Piffles.

And fortunately we went with the dog.

"He is 100 per cent genetically identical that's why he's called Mr Piffles 2.0! Actually we call him Fortune, because he cost a fortune to create at $60,000. But he is worth every cent.

"Vegas has spawned many firsts from Elvis's residency to The Sphere, but never in the history of entertainment has there been a cloned performer."

John, who performs as Piff the Magic Dragon, became a hit on the Strip after appearing on America's Got Talent in 2015.

He and Piffles didn't win but were soon headhunted by the Flamingo hotel, which has hosted the likes of Sir Tom Jones and Gladys Knight.