He's one of the most widely recognised street performers in Manchester - just take a look at his Facebook page, Instagram hashtag and Flickr account, which are plastered with photos of him from his adoring fans.

But very little is known about the man behind Windswept Man - the human statue on Market Street who looks like a smart businessman caught in a strong gust of wind.

So, we had a sit down chat with Reinaldo Miranda to find out about his life and how he ended up entertaining Mancunian shoppers outside TK Maxx.

Here's what we asked him.

Where are you from?

Puerto Natales, a very small town in Chile with about 20,000 people. My mum was a housewife, my dad was a social security officer. We didn't have big problems, but there was no living a luxurious life.

(Image: Graham Griffiths)

Where did your passion for performance come from?

Since I remember I wanted to be on stage singing. When I was young I always tried to make a stage on my bed, with my bedding. If there was a school sketch I was there acting. I like to make up like a clown. Every time there was a circus in our town, we were there.

What other jobs have you had?

I have done lots of different jobs. When I finished school in Chile I moved to Venezuela. In my mind I wanted to travel, and have adventure always. My dreams were coming true by travelling. My first jobs were working as a waiter and a salesman there. I also worked in construction. It's what everybody does when they finish school.

When did you become a street performer?

This entertainment thing came about 20 years ago - in 1997, when I was about 36. I was living in Barcelona at the time. I had just finished working at a restaurant. I wasn't working so I needed to do something. It was August. In Spain, during the summer, it is dead. What was in my heart was a passion from my childhood - acting and performing. So really all that passion came out in that year in Barcelona. The first thing I thought was 'I'm going to go to the street and do something'.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

I decided to be a human statue. I became a monk. I had seen a statue in a park and decided to become that. I prepared a costume and got some white makeup. I had an old sewing machine and got to work making the costume. I didn't buy anything. I wasn't good at makeup but I learned. Without asking anybody, I went to La Rambla and tried it. I didn't practice. I just improvised.

How did it feel going out on the street for the first time?

I didn't know I could stand still so long, but I tried. People were staring at me and I was trying to stay still. It was hard to stop my eyes blinking. I was there for five hours. When I heard the first coin dropping I thought, 'it worked'. When I finished I looked at my money box and I saw a lot of money. I don't know if I was good, but it felt excellent. I didn't realise what was happening but the feeling was good. I thought 'I like this'. Those were good times. Now it is hard. It's not my full time job, it's extra money, it's not something I can do for a living just this.

When did you leave Barcelona?

It started to be difficult in 2008 (the year of the financial crash). Things started to change. I decided to try somewhere else. When you work in the street you want to go to other places and try new things. I knew a little English, so I didn't want to go somewhere like France or Germany, where I didn't know the language. I bought a plane ticket to Liverpool. But when I arrived in Liverpool I saw it was raining outside and I didn't see many people. So I decided to go to Dublin. But in Dublin it was raining harder. I stayed in Dublin for a few years.

How did you end up coming to Manchester?

I moved to Manchester from Dublin in 2011 or 12. The first thing (street performers) look for is the street where we can work. I started in Market Street. I didn't like it. I thought it was busy, there were too many people performing, it was too noisy. But it was the wrong perception. I decided to go to New Cathedral Street, with the expensive shops. I worked there for a long time. It was a little quiet on Sunday, but it was good for me Saturday. I could work OK. I had a few bad days, quiet days. I decided to try Market Street again. I have been here ever since.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Where did the idea for Windswept Man come from?

When I moved to Dublin, I had to pay a lot for baggage. I had to throw away a lot of things because I was on my own. I threw away all my costumes. I put them in the bin, they had been made by myself.

I thought 'it's time to start a life without makeup'. I went to a charity shop. I bought a jacket, I bought some wire, I put wire inside my jacket and a tie. I had seen someone do something similar. I went to the street, I bought a horrible bag made of canvas - that was the briefcase. I didn't think my Windswept Man was good. I'm a perfectionist, I don't like it if my costume looks bad, I wasn't happy. I wanted a proper case. But people liked it.

How do people on the street react to you?

There are sometimes people trying to make me laugh. They never manage to make me laugh, I don't think it's funny. It's funny the natural things - like if a lady screams. They really make me laugh and I can't hold it in because I want to laugh. The first moment I have the chance to talk, I'm not what people think. Sometimes they laugh, sometimes they feel scared.

I have had abuse, unfortunately there are always people that don't respect you and say things. Many people have said 'get a proper job'. Sometimes people have pushed me or thrown things at me like a piece of paper or a bottle of water. I have to always wait and count to ten.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

I always say something, I don't accept anything. They must think 'what is this old man doing there?'. The street is a jungle, if you accept everything they will eat you. So you have to stick up for yourself. You have to react, you can't accept. It's difficult, people have a strange sense of humour. When I'm performing I'm always alert. People touch my tie, sometimes 20 or 30 times, it's annoying.

The most important thing is that most people react really well. There are so many nice people, children, friends. Some that say 'I really love what you do'. Some people say 'I haven't seen you in a while', and I don't even know who they are. Sometimes I'm having a conversation and I don't know who I am talking to. There are really nice people.

How long does it take to get ready?

Ten minutes. I come to Manchester from my home in Stockport with my brief case inside my jacket, and with a wire ready for my tie. In my hand is my coat. It's that simple. It's much quicker than being a monk. That took forever. I used to paint the clothes, the costume, and put on the makeup.

When do you work?

I only work Saturdays and Sundays, for about three hours each day. Unless it's a nice day, or a holiday, like during half term I can try every day. I have a sales job in the week. When it rains I disappear. You can only sell umbrellas when it rains.

What are your hobbies?

I like playing guitar. I play guitar at home, I like listening to music. I like The Beatles. I like watching the news, I like to be informed. I like football, I support Manchester City. I am a person who exercises, I go for a run.

Do you struggle to keep still for so long?

It's a big effort sometimes to stand in that position. I need to be fit. It would be hard if not. I really think it's just practice, it's a state of my body or my mind, I know how to do that. I usually have a break, one or two breaks, no more than ten minutes. I've never been a person who walks around a lot.

What do you think about when you keep still?

Sometimes I think about what I need from the supermarket. When I'm standing there I have time to think about anything I want, it's my time really until somebody drops a coin in my box. When that happens I'm 100 pc connected with that person. When I have a good musician near me I'm the number one fan of that music in secret.

(Image: Andrew Stuart)

Do you know the other street performers?

I know other street performers, I see the same people, same faces. Sometimes you see new ones. We know each other. We say hello. If in a moment we have to support somebody, we do it.

What about your home life?

I am married and live in Stockport. I have a son who lives in Barcelona. He's 15-years-old.

Is it still fun all these years on?

I still enjoy it, it's difficult, it's hard, if you put it on a scale, the enjoyment weighs more than the annoyance. It depends on the day. Sometimes it's nice, sometimes it starts changing so I go home. I will keep going as long as I feel OK doing it.