The first celebrity endorsements are in: Labour has bagged both John Watson and Doctor Who. Martin Freeman appears in a minute-long party political broadcast, with David Tennant providing a voiceover.
Their combination is no accident. Appealing to Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Hobbit fandoms in one swift minute-long move, Labour seem to be actively after the youth vote. Or the strange, single, 45-year-old uncle vote. But most likely the former.
Unless the Tories produce one featuring Emma Watson and Taylor Lautner re-enacting 50 Shades whilst Charles Dance explains the benefits of a “Long-Term Economic Plan”, the fandoms are voting Miliband.
But is this right? Bilbo and Casanova aren’t selling headphones. They’re using popularity garnered from widely, and wildly, popular shows to persuade their followers (some might argue, almost blindly) into following and agreeing with their political allegiances.
Then again, it would be wrong to argue against the average person getting involved in political campaigning. In fact, it goes against the nature of democracy. So at what point would someone be declared too popular for politics?
Such an age-old approach as getting the well-liked and well-known to support candidacy both works and doesn’t. In terms of clicking on the play button, it’s wildly successful – 25,000 YouTube views alone apparently, as of writing. One of those was me. Yet, in terms of votes, it’s far from guaranteed.
Eddie Izzard, for example, is phenomenally famous and beloved. He is, himself, a phenonemon. However, even his public support in similar videos couldn’t push Labour to a majority in 2010.
Campaigns are never won solely on celebrity endorsements. But in a few weeks we’ll find out which of the popular people’s career gambles paid off.
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