Celebrity penguin has 15k fans and counting - and now he's vying for global stardom

A celebrity penguin from the UK with 15k social media followers is in the running to be named the world’s most popular flightless bird.

The beloved bird, known as Spike, has made it through to the final of Penguins International’s ‘March of the Penguins Madness’ challenge.

The competition has seen Spike see off competitors from as far afield as Australia, America and Canada.

Now, the 15-year-old king penguin from Birdland Park and Gardens in the Cotswolds faces one final challenge to win the global crown.

He has gone up against an African penguin called Mai from the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Hawaii.

Spike is one of the country’s best-known penguins, having starred alongside Sir David Attenborough as part of the ‘Natural Curiosities’.

Other television highlights include appearances on the shows Penguins Make You Laugh Out Loud, Junior Vets and Escape to the Country.