The deputy leader of the UK Independence Party, Paul Nuttall, has denied that he used to play loveable/incredibly irritating brown bear Bungle in seventies kids TV show Rainbow, saying it's the funniest thing he's ever read about himself.
Internet pranksters edited Mr Nuttall's Wikipedia page to read, “Nuttall was the original Bungle in children’s television show Rainbow" but the MEP for Merseyside, Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire and Greater Manchester took the joke in good spirit.
“I think this is probably the funniest thing I’ve ever read about myself on the internet. I’m all for it.” he told The Daily Mirror but added: “Considering I wasn’t even born when Rainbow started, it makes it very difficult indeed for this to be true.
Bungle, the rather dopey bear who appeared with speedy puppet Zippy, chilled-out pink hippo George, and human host Jeffrey on Rainbow from 1972 to 1992, was actually played by actors John Leeson, Stanley Bates, Malcolm Lord and Paul Cullinan.
Mr Nuttall was not asked whether UKIP would rule out a rainbow coalition after the UK General Election next year.
