Eddie Izzard MEP?

Career change appeals

Eddie Izzard says he would be interested in becoming a Labour Euro-MP.

As an enthusiastic supporter of the single currency who donated £10,000 to Tony Blair's re-election campaign, the comic has the perfect credentials for the job.

And, during an interview plugging the euro's benefits, Izzard was asked if he would take a seat in Strasbourg, he replied: "Yep, I'm interested.

"But I'd have to give all this [comedy] up. I've spent years trying to get here, I mean years."

Izzard has persuaded the West End's Comedy Theatre, where he is currently appearing in A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg, to accept euros at the box office.

And he told The Guardian: "We had two world wars to see how many of our grandparents and great-grandparents we could pile up in heaps. With Europe coming together, it is the final building block in the idea tha we will stop rolling tanks across each other's borders."

Izzard studied financial matters at Sheffield University, but dropped out after a year because it was "incredibly boring".

He added: "I don't do jokes on the euro. It's boring. It's dry and tedious. How many conversations can you have about finances?"


Published: 23 Dec 2001

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