Here's how to get your very own video call from Edinburgh's Batman and raise money for charity

LIKE all frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, Chris Cowan is a hero by day, however, by night, the mild-mannered 51-year-old transforms into a superhero, raising spirits as the Capital's very own Batman.

Edinburgh's Batman and his Batmobile

In the normal scheme of things, Chris, a social care worker with Capability Scotland, finds his alter-ego and very own Batmobile in great demand for children's parties, weddings and what he calls pop-ins, where shyer kids, who might find the occasion a bit overwhelming, get to meet Edinburgh's Batman and sit in the Batmobile without being surrounded by a huge crowd.

With the current lock down forcing those activities to be put on hold, Edinburgh's Batman has found a novel way to cheer everyone up during their enforced isolation, he's doing one to one Bat-calls over Facebook.

The dad of one explains, "Before we went into lock down, I'd take the Batmobile into town and soon realised, with some pride, that the majority of people did a double-take and then smiled. You can imagine the feeling that gives me, there really is nothing like it."

Edinburgh panto legend Andy Gray meets Batman

He continues, "The problem now is that even Batman must abide by the rules, so I can't leave the Batcave and even going for a short walk in Edinburgh feels completely different, and not in a good way, so the video calls have proven to be a big hit."

Each Bat-call costs £10 with all money raised split between Capability Scotland and The Trussell Trust, a charity organising food banks in the UK

"I call directly from the Batmobile which is sitting in the Batcave, and I can have a chat with kids over Facebook Messenger without stepping outside," elaborates Chris. "They can see the dashboard of the Batmobile, which has a computer, radar, lit-up panel and a special steering wheel that also lights up. Kids always get a kick out of seeing the layout and I always hear 'Wow!' from their grown-ups."

Educated at Firrhill High School, Chris first had the idea of becoming Batman after trying his hand as an amateur actor with various am-dram theatre companies. He recalls, "The original idea was to buy a small car I could airbrush to achieve an optical illusion - to look as if it had been cut in half, showing cogs, pistons, gears pulleys etc. I needed it to be inexpensive, so I looked on Ebay, found this car, and realised right away that it was the Batmobile - it just needed a little enhancement."

Edinburgh's Batman

He admits that until then he wasn't really a fan of Gotham's caped guardian anymore than "the next person."

"I`d see the movies and really enjoy them, so when I bought the car I started to map out a design with the plan to sell it on for a small profit, but when it was finished, I fell in love with it," says Chris, who then bought a costume online.

Edinburgh's Batman made his debut as part of the Kira The Machine fundraising campaign for the charity Solving Kids' Cancer.

He recalls, "There I was, in costume, when I was approached by a woman and her son. She asked if she could take a picture of her son beside the car and was a bit deflated when I said, 'No', but then I added, `because I have a better idea, would he like to sit inside the Batmobile?` The little boy thought Christmas had come early and the woman was slightly overwhelmed. They both really enjoyed the experience, but I quickly realised that the inside of the car was quite plain. That was when I decided to make it much more interesting."

To do that, Chris got to work adding bits and pieces to the Batmobile, including the computer and keyboard, a radar, viewing screen, flashing police light, under-car lighting and a rear booster rocket. One person to get up close and personal with the Batmobile recently was King's panto star and self-confessed Batman fanatic Andy Gray.

"I was absolutely thrilled to be booked to appear for Andy Gray," smiles Chris. "It was to mark his return to the stage after his illness and was a huge success. I presented him with a special gift, a mounted Batarang, and I will now and forever be able to say that Andy Gray sat in my Batmobile. I'm a fan of Andy`s comedy anyway, so it was really a joy for me to be able to do this and I`m glad to say that when the world turns back to normal, Andy and I will be having a drive in the Batmobile... with the roof down."

Another highlight for Edinburgh's Batman was getting a groom to the church on time.

"The weather was stunning, the roof was down and what better way for the groom, who was a huge Batman fan, to arrive at his wedding than in the Batmobile chauffeured by Batman himself."

Any booking will find Chris in full costume with the number plate on the Batmobile set to BATMAN 1.

"I have a chat with the birthday child, always sounding like Christian Bale's Batman, then invite everyone to come outside to see the car," he says, adding, "The birthday child always gets the first chance to sit in the car, then it's everyone else's turn.

"My colleagues at work always know when I've had a gig at the weekend as I can never get all the make-up off and look as if I have very heavy eye-liner on," he laughs, continuing, "People have asked why I choose Batman and not Superman or Spiderman. The simple truth is that neither of them have a car and, to be brutally honest, I don't have the kind of body to be Superman."

On a more serious note, Edinburgh's Batman has one last message to impart, "During this lock down, take care of each other, use your common sense and keep that two meter distance between people, in other words, be your own superhero and keep yourself and everyone around you safe."

To book Edinburgh's Batman visit his Facebook page, call 07717 633 856 or email [email protected]