Eddie Izzard: keen to run as an MP

Good news for anyone disenchanted with identikit careerist politicians and disappointed with the dreary list of celebrities who've said they'd like to stand against them. Eddie Izzard, the transvestite comedian turned multiple marathon runner, has revealed his intentions to run for parliament.

Shortly after completing his seven-week, 1,100-mile trip - up the west of England, through Wales to Northern Ireland and then up to Scotland and back down the east of England – in aid of Sport Relief, Izzard spoke of his political ambitions. "I've said I will stand as an MP or MEP at some stage, in 10 to 15 years. I like to make long announcements. But at the moment, I've spent so long trying to get my career going [that] I don't want to throw it away," he said.

This isn't the first time that Izzard, 47, has mentioned this possible career change; he said much the same thing during an interview in the middle of his 2008 Stripped tour. If he does stand, it would be as a Labour candidate, having appeared for them in party political broadcasts, donated almost £10,000 to the party, and met with Gordon and Sarah Brown and David Miliband at Downing Street after completing his multiple marathon yesterday.

Izzard already has a brimming portfolio of worthy causes: he has green credentials from presenting at Live Earth; he donated the proceeds of one New Orleans gig to a housing charity for those made homeless by Hurricane Katrina; and he is an honorary member of the Normandy Veterans Association.

So, assuming that Britain is happy to vote for a cross-dressing atheist, the biggest battle that Izzard might face is convincing voters to share in his enthusiasm for Europe. He has gone on Question Time to make the case that the UK should further integrate into the EU, and made a public point by being one of the first people ever to spend a euro in London. He also performs confidently in both French and German.

He won't be the first liberal comedian to turn to politics. This July, after a lengthy recount, former Saturday Night Live funnyman Al Franken was finally sworn in as a Democratic Senator for Minnesota.