Count Binface

Count Binface
First appearance12 December 2018[1]
Portrayed byJonathan David Harvey (since 2018)
In-universe information
SpeciesRecyclon
GenderMale
OccupationLeader of the Recyclons
OriginSigma IX

Count Binface is a satirical novelty candidate created by the British comedian Jonathan David Harvey[2] in 2018.[3] He stood as a candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in the 2019 United Kingdom general election against the then prime minister, Boris Johnson, and again at the 2023 by-election that followed Johnson's resignation. He also stood in the London Mayoral elections in 2021 and 2024.[4] In the 2024 UK general election Binface stood against the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, in his Richmond and Northallerton constituency.

In earlier elections, Harvey stood as Lord Buckethead,[5] but was forced to change the character due to a copyright dispute with the American filmmaker Todd Durham, who created Lord Buckethead for his 1984 science fiction film Hyperspace.[6][7] Since then Harvey has used the platform of Binface to promote electoral participation, with the slogan, "Make Your Vote Count".

Originally standing as an independent, since 2023 his affiliation has been given as Count Binface Party on ballot papers.[8]

  1. ^ "Former Lord Buckethead takes aim at rival candidate who took his name as he bids to unseat Boris Johnson". Independent.co.uk. 15 November 2019.
  2. ^ "New MPs elected at July by-elections". parliament.uk. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ^ Cockburn, Harry (15 November 2019). "Former Lord Buckethead takes aim at rival candidate who took his name as he bids to unseat Boris Johnson". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Count Binface (@[email protected])". Mastodon. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  5. ^ Count Binface (12 March 2021). Hip To Be Mayor!. Retrieved 12 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ Waterson, Jim (26 May 2019). "Double trouble: the fight to be the real Lord Buckethead". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019. 'People should know it's not the same person,' said comedian Jon Harvey, confirming for the first time that he was the man in the plastic mask during the 2017 general election. 'It's being run by an American from Beverly Hills.'
  7. ^ "Comedian Jon Harvey to take on Boris Johnson as Count Binface". comedy.co.uk. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019. 'Harvey previously took on Theresa May as Lord Buckethead, but has changed the character after an American-lead copyright dispute'
  8. ^ "Count Binface". whocanivotefor.co.uk. Democracy Club Community Interest Company. Retrieved 26 May 2024.