While Theresa May is visibly struggling to hold things together at the moment, the same can't be said of Lord Buckethead, one of the less conventional candidates who ran against the Prime Minister in her constituency of Maidenhead.
The alternative candidate is riding a wave of success after securing 249 votes. Something he described as a 'new Buckethead record'.
Admittedly, his count wasn't anywhere near Theresa May's, but his profile has never been higher.
Advert
As if that wasn't enough for the comedy candidate, he now looks set to break America after appearing on the latest edition of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
Lord Buckethead took to Twitter, posting a photo of himself behind the host's desk, with the caption: "I have not obliterated John Oliver with a laser. But I am in Earth City New York, I am on @LastWeekTonight, and I do like this glass desk..."
The episode focused almost entirely on the election, with host Oliver explaining to his audience Britain's tradition of joke political candidates.
Advert
As the show came to a close, the host directly addressed the Prime Minister, saying that Lord Buckethead could in fact be the man to handle Brexit negotiations.
"Is it an absurd idea? Yes," Oliver admitted. "But it would not even be close to the stupidest thing you've ever done."
Advert
In the run up to the election, Lord Buckethead handed out 38,300 fliers with the caption: "Strong, not entirely stable, leadership. Vote Lord Buckethead for the most powerful protest vote in the galaxy."
He also wrote a jingle to promote them: "Spread them far, spread them wide. Choose the Lord with the bucket, not the Tory who lied."
In spite of the recent surge in interest, Lord Buckethead is far from a political newbie. In fact, he's been running as an alternative candidate in various elections since 1987 when he went up against Margaret Thatcher.
He might have made the trip over the Atlantic, but Lord Buckethead is far from the only satirical candidate in the states.
Advert
Massachusets' Vermin Supreme has been making headlines for years with his hilarious policies and absurd appearance.
Known for wearing a welly on his head and carrying a giant toothbrush, he wants to introduce mandatory tooth brushing, along with a free pony for every American...although people will be expected to have their ponies with them at all times for the new nationwide pony identification program.
The UK's Lord Buckethead's manifesto, on the other hand, includes pledges to reintroduce Ceefax, legalise the hunting of fox-hunters and calls for Katie Hopkins to be banished to 'the phantom zone'.
Advert
I can get on board with that.
Words: Paddy Maddison
Topics: general election, UK
