An actor as British PM?

[Paul B.]

Is there any plausible cases where a British actor or actress - either famous or minor - could become PM of the UK?

[Orville_third]

Perhaps in the future? (I'm hoping David Tennant loses his bias towards New Labour and heads more to Old Labour. Of course, I also think he'd be a nice Moderator like his dad...)

[Thande]

Not in a leaping-across-to-it way as is possible in America, our political system precludes that. They would have to serve as an MP for a long time and build up sufficient following to be elected leader. It is possible though.

[Plumber]

Not in a leaping-across-to-it way as is possible in America, our political system precludes that. They would have to serve as an MP for a long time and build up sufficient following to be elected leader. It is possible though.
Stephen Fry could probably that off though, no?

[Thande]

Stephen Fry could probably that off though, no?

No. You need to build support within a party, it's not enough to be a public-vote-winner, this isn't a presidential system.

Probably the closest we've had is Glenda Jackson, but she's never had leadership ambitions AFAIK.

[Lord Brisbane]

Whilst not strictly an actor, we have had an Australian variant. Although Peter Garrett (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Garrett) turned out to an incompetent buffoon of a minister whose tenure at his Department oversaw billions of wasted dollars, bad decisions and numerous deaths, its still proves that celebrities can worm their way up through a Westminster type system.

[Lemon flavoured]

No. You need to build support within a party, it's not enough to be a public-vote-winner, this isn't a presidential system.

Probably the closest we've had is Glenda Jackson, but she's never had leadership ambitions AFAIK.

Stephen Fry could almost certainly get elected as an MP wherever he wanted though. Could he become a party leader? It's possible I guess.

Also, someone should give Jeremy Clarkson a peerage and make him transport secretary :eek:

[FletcherofSaltoun]

Perhaps in the future? (I'm hoping David Tennant loses his bias towards New Labour and heads more to Old Labour. Of course, I also think he'd be a nice Moderator like his dad...)
What is it, specifically that you prefer about old Labour to new Labour?

David Tennant, alongside Steven Fry, Ross Kemp and Hugh Lawrie have all appeared in Labour PPBs, but would likely never even dream of entering Parliament. Active support for a political party does not a politician make.

Eddie Izzard on the other hand would be an outside chance for Labour.

Despite the Tories being far more reluctant to use celebs in their PPBs, and to my knowledge only using Michael Caine in the last election, they have potentially a better chance at having an actor become PM, in Adam Ricketts, who was approved as a Tory PPC, but never stood at the last election.

EDIT: TONY ROBINSON! How could I forget! Baldrick is on the NEC of the Labour Party.

[President_Gore]

William Roache, otherwise known as Ken Barlow from Coronation Street is well known for his Conservative Party support. If he leaves the Street say in 1978 and becomes a PPC in a safe Conservative seat, riding into Parliament on the Thatcher landslide. If he becomes a Junior Minister circa 1981 and then into the Cabinet in 1987, he could potentially replace Thatcher in 1990

[KillerT]

Perhaps he left 'The Street' after it got axed..I'm liking THIS timeframe


(yup I'm a Corrie widower)

[Devolved]

Is there any plausible cases where a British actor or actress - either famous or minor - could become PM of the UK?

Michael Caine if he were a little younger. He's a Tory supporter but with a working class background and high name recognition.

The problem with actors is that they are usually not well educated and have self esteem issues.

[RPW@Cy]

EDIT: TONY ROBINSON! How could I forget! Baldrick is on the NEC of the Labour Party.

Also Michael Cashman, formerly of Eastenders and now an MEP. If he'd gone to Westminster instead of Brussels he would have been sufficiently senior to challenge for the leadership this time round and run for PM at the next General Election.

[stevep]

Also, someone should give Jeremy Clarkson a peerage and make him transport secretary :eek:

Ugh! I'll see you're :eek: and raise you a :eek::eek::eek::eek:. Our transport [non]-system is in enough of a mess without giving it to that brainless buffoon.

Steve

[Beedok]

EDIT: TONY ROBINSON! How could I forget! Baldrick is on the NEC of the Labour Party.
Who doesn't want PM Baldrick!:cool:

[MrP]

Would Robinson suffer from the same sort of problem as Boris Johnson: figure of fun? Or is he now a beloved national thingy like John Cleese (despite Fawlty Towers). When I think Robinson, I do think Time Team as opposed to Blackadder, but I don't want to push my image onto the public's.

No. You need to build support within a party, it's not enough to be a public-vote-winner, this isn't a presidential system.

Probably the closest we've had is Glenda Jackson, but she's never had leadership ambitions AFAIK.

Dave had a repeat of the HIGNFY episode when they omitted her from the Wheel o' Mayoral Candidacy the other day. She looked rather lacking in gruntle, poor thing.

[Spengler]

what about her?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Angela_Lansbury.jpg
She had a past of parents with political background.

[Count Dearborn]

what about her?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Angela_Lansbury.jpg
She had a past of parents with political background.

I thought it was her grandfather who was in politics? I couldn't see her in the role of Prime Minister, or even a MP.

[dilbert719]

I can't see any possible way to do it, but I would love to see a TL where Ian Richardson, fresh off of shooting House of Cards, gets elected to Parliament and rises to PM.

[MrP]

The mother of the Manchurian Candidate becomes Prime Minister? Heh!

[usertron2020]

The mother of the Manchurian Candidate becomes Prime Minister? Heh!

Technically, she was the WIFE of the Manchurian Candidate!:eek:

[Landshark]

Vote Lumley.

Or we unleash the Ghurkas.

[MrP]

Technically, she was the WIFE of the Manchurian Candidate!:eek:

Oh, yes, of course. I'm sorry; I placed her son as the candidate rather than her husband. My cheeks erubesce!

[Gridley]

Is there any plausible cases where a British actor or actress - either famous or minor - could become PM of the UK?

Easy!

1. Alec Guinness decides he wants to be PM of the UK. (Why? Who knows...)
2. He makes a quick stop by the makeup and wardrobe departments. In addition to other necessities, he acquires a large blunt instrument.
3. He sneaks up behind the current PM in a dark alley and bashes his skull in. He hides the body, and assumes the role of "The PM of the UK".
4. Alec Guinness vanishes, much to the dismay of the movie-going world. The PM of the UK is noted to have grown/shrunk by several inches according to a story in the Mirror, but few pay it much attention.

Hey, nothing said the actor had to become PM by legal means!

[Marky Bunny]

We have already had an actor as Prime-Minister, he was called Tony Blair:D