The Joke's On Us: How Britain's 'Fringe' Candidates Are Shaping Politics The image of Count Binface, a man in a bin costume, standing alongside Nigel Farage in the Clacton by election is jarring.
For some, it's a laughable spectacle – a "joke" candidate playing to the galleries while serious business takes place elsewhere.
But scratch beneath the surface and you'll find a long history of comedy candidates who have had a profound impact on British politics.