The person who stood against Theresa May in the 2017 General Election as intergalactic space lord Lord Buckethead has finally revealed their identity. It is comedian Jon Harvey, who is appearing at the Soho Theatre on June 3 as himself.

In an interview with the Guardian Harvey explained how he came to take on Prime Minister May in the Maidenhead constituency, winning 249 votes, going viral, appearing on American television and at the Glastonbury Festival.

Harvey says that he came across the character when watching the 1984 film Gremloids. After reading that people had stood in previous elections in the guise of the black-clad bucket-headed persona – one stood against Margaret Thatcher in 1987 and John Major in 1992 – he decided to follow suit.

On election night 2017 he changed in the leisure centre showers and then found himself face-to-face with May: "I turned to her and said: ‘Good evening, prime minister.’ She turned to me and said: ‘Good evening.’”

But now Harvey says that Todd Durham, who made Gremloids, has asserted control over his creation. The Lord Buckethead who has appeared recently is no longer Jon Harvey,

According to the Guardian Durham is open to different people making authorised applications to stand as the character in future British elections: “My Lord Buckethead character has always been the voice of the people, so my feeling is to let the people be his voice.” 

Read more here.

Jon Harvey: Treasuretrove is at Soho Theatre on June 3. Tickets and Info here.