Who is Count Binface and what is his real name? Meet the Clacton by-election candidate

CLACTON has gone to the polls for a by-election that features a record-breaking 34 candidates on the ballot paper. Nigel Farage has an unusual list of opponents in the vote, which was triggered by the Reform UK leader’s resignation from the seat in July – and Count Binface is one of the most recognisable. Count Binface attends the vote count for the Makerfield by-election – eventually won by Andy Burnham Credit: Reuters The Clacton by-election was triggered by Nigel Farage resigning from the seat in July Credit: AP What is Count Binface’s real name? While the character claims to be a Recyclon from the planet Sigma IX and a fan of the classic TV show Lovejoy, the man sweating inside the suit is very much a human from Earth. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! His real name is Jonathan David Harvey, a 50-something British comedian, satirical writer, and producer. He has comedy pedigree under his belt, having worked on TV hits like The Thick of It and Have I Got News For You. Read more on Clacton election But when election season calls, Jon ditches the writer’s desk, straps on a giant metal bin, and transforms into a joke candidate – part of a long line of figures who have poked fun at the electoral process. Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, and the Greens all refused to stand in the by-election – leaving the “intergalactic space warrior” in the unlikely position as Farage’s closest challenger. After it emerged that the major parties were refusing to stand, Binface declared himself a “unity candidate”, and said, “Leave him to me!” What are Binface’s most memorable election moments? This is far from Binface’s first time at a vote, and the “space warrior” is a seasoned election veteran who loves winding up political heavyweights. Most read in The Sun Before he became Count Binface, Harvey stood against Theresa May in Maidenhead during the 2017 general election under his previous alter-ego, Lord Buckethead. The iconic image of a giant, bucket-headed alien standing next to a stone-faced Prime Minister went viral globally. Following a copyright dispute over the Buckethead name, Binface was born. He famously challenged Boris Johnson in 2019 and went toe-to-toe with Rishi Sunak in 2024. He has also targeted City Hall, running for Mayor of London twice. While he has never actually come close to moving into Number 10, his unusual manifesto promises – like capping the price of croissants – have won him an army of loyal fans. Comment now