Ex-MP stars in Fringe musical about his 'heroic failures'

Lembit Opik is taking a second stab at a comedy career, by starring in a musical at the Edinburgh Fringe.

The former Liberal Democrat MP stars in Rocking Your Vote! which uses his 'heroic failures' for some of its inspiration, and comes six years after Opik made a well-publicised attempt to turn his hand to stand-up. (Review)

The comic plot of the new musical revolves around a fictional political candidate, from the highs of being selected to contest a seat 'to the lows of becoming a lonely "billy-no-mates"'

Opik joked: ‘I recommend no one watch this because of the damage my performance will do my reputation. I would sue them – if I could afford to.’

It has been written by Will Goodhand, who also drew on his own experiences on the campaign trail. He stood for the Tories in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland in last year's General Election.

He previously appeared on the E4 reality show Beauty and the Geek where he was nicknamed 'Tory Boy'; and as an Oxford student he made the front page of The Sun when he was pictured kissing Christine Hamilton at an Conservative Association dinner.

Goodhead claimed his aim for the was musical to encourage more people to vote.

He said: 'I read an interview with William Shatner - he said that as Star Trek took off it helped NASA to get funding because decision-makers saw the success of the show and funded space exploration more. An extreme example maybe but we want to see more people being engaged in politics - actually participating and getting involved.

'But as we say (or rather, sing) in the final song, if people don't like the people or some of the things they've seen, then they can change that by getting involved and participating themselves'.

After being voted out of his Montgomeryshire seat in 2010, Opik – who famously dated weather presenter Siân Lloyd and Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia – has appeared in a raft of panel shows, on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and even in a professional wresting bout.

His day job is now communications director for the Motorcycle Action Group.

Earlier this year, he had surgery on the NHS to correct his crooked jaw – the result of a paragliding accident - which he said gave him a renewed confidence.

Rocking Your Vote! plays at Greenside @ Nicolson Square on August 8 to 26; and is previewing at the Hen and Chickens in London this weekend.

Published: 29 Jun 2016