Comedian Jon Harvey's satirical alter ego, Count Binface, has confirmed a one-off performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 26 August, titled Face of the Establishment, following his second-place finish in the Clacton by-election behind Nigel Farage.
The self-proclaimed intergalactic space warrior secured 9,455 votes against Farage's 22,239, giving him a 26.9% vote share that is believed to be the highest ever recorded by a novelty candidate in a UK election.
What happened in the Clacton by-election?
The contest was called as a snap by-election after Nigel Farage triggered it, and according to a report from Al-Ahram, the ballot attracted 33 fringe candidates in total, since none of the major political parties fielded a contender in the seat.
Who is behind the character?
Count Binface is the creation of Jon Harvey, whose full name is Jonathan David Harvey, a former BBC journalist who now works as a comedian, satirical author and producer, according to reporting from The Sun. He previously staged a stand-up show at the Fringe in 2018 and performed for audiences at Glastonbury in 2024.
What is Count Binface's electoral track record?
The character has contested four parliamentary elections and two London mayoral races, and has appeared on the same ballot as two sitting prime ministers - Boris Johnson in the 2019 general election and Rishi Sunak in 2024. He also ran under a separate guise, Lord Buckethead, against Theresa May in Maidenhead in 2017. According to the character's official website, he won 24,260 votes in the 2024 London mayoral election, finishing ahead of Britain First. A profile from Al Jazeera states he has stood in at least six elections since 2019.
His campaign platform has included pledges such as building at least one affordable house, nationalising the singer Adele and reviving the defunct Ceefax teletext service. He told the BBC:
His policies include building "at least one affordable house, nationalising Adele and bring back Ceefax".
A 2026 profile from describes the character as having become a media favourite, with additional comic policy pledges including capping the price of croissants at £1.
What happens next for Count Binface?
Listings from AEG Presents indicate the character's live branding has since shifted toward a new touring show called Bindependence Day, positioned as a fresh comedy and science-fiction production rather than a single Fringe appearance. Separately, a 2026 Wikipedia entry notes that a July run of a show titled A (Moral) Victory Rally at London's Museum of Comedy sold out, suggesting continued demand on the live-comedy circuit following the by-election result.
Key Facts
- Count Binface received 9,455 votes in Clacton, a 26.9% share - reportedly the highest ever for a novelty candidate.
- Nigel Farage won the seat with 22,239 votes.
- The Fringe show, Face of the Establishment, is scheduled for 26 August at the Pleasance.
- Jon Harvey, whose full name is Jonathan David Harvey, previously performed at the Fringe in 2018 and at Glastonbury in 2024.
- The character has since been linked to a new tour, Bindependence Day, and a sold-out London show, A (Moral) Victory Rally.
