Jezza for PM? Eddie wouldn't bet on it
It takes a brave man to waltz through the middle of Wolverhampton city centre in a pair of high heeled boots and wearing shiny red nail varnish.
And that holds doubly true when you station yourself right next to the Man on the 'Oss statue, a place frequently populated by the city's Black Mamba/nothing-under-nine-per-cent clique.
But if anyone can get away with it, Eddie Izzard can.
With all due respect to the dozens of politicians who will be descending on the Black Country and Staffordshire in the lead up to the General Election, few will hold a crowd like Eddie.
He seemingly appeared out of nowhere and was greeted with loud cheers, a microphone immediately thrust towards him by a grinning Labour activist.
There were a few bemused looks. "Is that really him?" whispered one women, pulling her glasses down over the bridge of her nose.
Eddie launched into a passionate plea for people to register to vote in the June 8 election. People fought in a war for this, he tells the by now 200-strong crowd, again prompting wild cheers in response.
As you might expect from a Labour luvvie, his pitch is littered with jokes at the Tories expense.
"We have a battlebus, which says 'for the many, not the few', and Theresa May has a helicopter, which says 'for the few, not the many'," he says, before looking towards the sky and announcing: "The sun always shines on Labour."
The latter comment understandably drew quizzical looks from some people in the crowd, but this is not Eddie's first rodeo when it comes to political campaigning.
He has been a fixture on the campaign trail for years, and cynics might suggest he's been called upon to take the focus away from the ungodly mess that Labour currently finds itself in.
In the past he has campaigned to elect Ken Livingstone as Mayor of London, appeared on television with Ed Miliband ahead of the 2015 General Election, and backed Remain in the EU referendum, all of which suggests those of a Conservative persuasion will not exactly be quaking in their boots.
But Eddie's not giving up hope.
"Let's get our three Wolverhampton candidates elected at this election," he urged.
There is a chance that by the time 2022 rolls around Eddie may be back in the city campaigning for a seat of his own.
He has long said he wants to run for Parliament and has expressed a preference for a seat 'in the Midlands or the North'.
Like almost everyone else sporting a red rosette, Eddie tries his best to put on a brave face when he is asked about Labour's chances next month.
He is quick to trawl out the already tired sounding 'we've got a fight on our hands' platitudes. When a member of Joe Public asks him if he backs Jeremy Corbyn, he politely answers: "Well, his policies are slightly to the left of mine."
Other punters were desperate for a wager.
"I bet you £1,000 Jeremy Corbyn will not be Prime Minister!!" shouted former Goodyear worker Gurdev Rai, an inch away from an uncomfortable looking Eddie's ear.
Eddie smiled and patted Mr Rai on the shoulder. But he didn't take the bet.
