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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Entertainment
Louisa Streeting

Stephen Merchant 'throws hat in the ring' to play Jacob Rees-Mogg

Stephen Merchant has jokingly thrown his "hat into the ring" to play Jacob Rees-Mogg in a future television show.

The Conservative MP, who is a longstanding ally of Boris Johnson, was among a cluster of backers pictured on Thursday (July 7) supporting the Prime Minister as he made his resignation speech outside Number 10. Mr Rees-Mogg, who represents North East Somerset, told a reporter from Sky News the Prime Minster had his full support after he was door-stepped earlier on Thursday.

Bristol-born actor and writer Merchant shared a photograph of himself on the set for Jojo Rabbit - where he played Gestapo agent Herman Deertz - side-by-side with the MP. He coupled it with the caption: "Throwing my hat in the ring for the six-part TV farce."

READ NEXT - The Outlaws community centre could be knocked down for new council flats

BELOW - The light-hearted tweet from Stephen Merchant

Merchant is not alone in thinking the collapse of Boris Johnson's Government could be worthy of a drama in future. And other actors reckon they could pull off playing other famous faces.

Actor Stephen Mangan compared himself to the former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak - who resigned from Cabinet on Tuesday evening. Another comparison between former advisor to Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings, and comedian Karl Pilkington (Merchant's former co-star) has sent fans into a frenzy.

Merchant's post has since gone viral on Twitter with many fans imploring the TV star to write the script himself. Replying to Merchant, @MJD56 commented: "Write it, write it please. Outlaws has been brilliant, but this could be your best."

@mcbrideBoro wrote: "You were born for the role." While @jeffpovey added: "As a fellow Bristolian, I agree, but only 6 parts? Will take at least 10 times that, me babber!"

@jwbottomley said: "Oh please do it Stephen, it would give us a huge laugh in the midst of all this pain. You'll need to bulk order tweed, 1920s suits, parchment and a copy of The Gentleman's Guide to the Eighteenth Century. (no longer in print.)"

However, some people asked him to focus on The Outlaws. @GGreengage said: "Please say you won’t have time to do this, because you’re writing series three of the Outlaws? It’s such a wonderful cast, they’ll be off scattered to the wind if you don’t get on with it..."

Merchant has recently released season two of the BBC series - which he wrote and starred in alongside Christopher Walken.

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