Election 2010: stars reveal their colours
Updated on 04 May 2010
From Albert Square to Hollywood, the stars are coming out to show where their loyalties lie as Britain gets ready to go to the polls at the general election. So who supports which party?
Barack Obama turned his celebrity support-base into a major vote-winning force during the 2008 US presidential race.
His combination of heavyweight names in music, TV and film (from Bob Dylan to Robert De Niro via Oprah) seemed to galvanise the "change" message which lined his pathway to the White House.
In Britain, political celebrity endorsements tend to be quirky rather than iconic. Who can forget Phil Collins's threat to leave the country if Labour won back in 1992?
But this election, with the TV debates adding a pinch of the X-Factor to proceedings, could be different.
(David Cameron and Take That lead singer Gary Barlow visit a school - Getty Images)
The main parties are clearly hoping so with all three playing their celebrity cards with gusto.
First it was Andy McNab, the former SAS member and author, who revealed his support for the Tories in March.
Then came David Cameron strolling around a school with Take That singer Gary Barlow, swiftly followed by Michael Caine's "surprise" appearance at a Conservative press conference.
The Tories also enjoy the support of TV property expert Kirsty Allsopp, who could be taking her rolls of Osborne and Little wallpaper to the Lords under a Cameron administration. She is rumoured to be on a list of potential "specialist" peers for the Tories.
Labour's famous supporters tend to be leftwing die-hards like Blackadder and Time Time star Tony Robinson along with comedians Ben Elton, Jo Brand and Bill Bailey.
Eddie Izzard and Richard Wilson are also high-profile funnymen backing Gordon Brown.
In their latest party election broadcast Labour's push to secure floating votes is led by EastEnders actor Ross Kemp who urges voters: "We need a party that caters for everybody, not a select few."
He has been out on the campaign trail with the Browns today while Doctor Who star David Tennant has apppeared on Labour campaign leaflets.
In the music world, Gary Barlow goes up against Labour-inclined Lily Allen and Beth Orton for the Lib Dems.
She said: "I am supporting the Liberal Democrats because they were the only party brave enough to vote against the war in Iraq."
(Daniel Radcliffe and Armando Iannucci endorse the Lib Dems)
The singer-songwriter's testimonial is one of thirteen featured on the Liberal Democrat website. She is joined by Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, Bafta-winning actor Colin Firth, comic writer Armando Iannucci, human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger, science writer Richard Dawkins and another music icon, producer Brian Eno.
This cross-section of support, combined with Clegg's performance in the leaders' debates, has helped give the Lib Dem campaign a touch of the Obama mood.
And for the time being at least Clegg, the official Facebook favourite, is the "cool" candidate with increasing numbers of both young supporters and famous faces willing to show their colour is yellow.
