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While politicians might be out canvassing for votes, and people on Question Time might be shouting at each other about election promises, these are not necessarily the things on which an election is won.
Celebrity endorsements and columnist opinions have huge sway - arguably, much more than leaflets stuck through the front door.
High-profile commentators such as Russell Brand, Caitlin Moran, or yes, even Cheryl Fernandez-Versini can prompt or lead debates on major policy issues.
No matter how many established political experts might question whether this should be the case, there's no point at sneering at the political clout that, say, Ant and Dec could have.
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If you consider that a great many more people voted for the X Factor than at the last General Election, what Cheryl thinks might matter more than what the Shadow Schools Secretary says in niche political blogs. Sorry, Tristram Hunt.
So, with this and a sense of perspective very much in mind, here is the alternative political power list.
Show all 19 1 /19General Election 2015: The alternative power list General Election 2015: The alternative power list Rick Edwards He may have started his career as a T4 pinup - best known for saying “awkward” and “now, for more Friends” - but Rick Edwards has re-launched his career as a politico. Edwards' book None Of The Above was published this year, and he was praised for making the prospect of voting and getting involved in politics exciting for young people.
General Election 2015: The alternative power list Ant and Dec The Geordie cheeky-chappy TV presenters recently took a turn as political pundits when they discussed their disillusionment with the Labour Party in February.
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General Election 2015: The alternative power list Cheryl Fernandez-Versini The singer gave a candid interview about her political beliefs, saying that as she paid a "f**king lot of tax" she was obliged to pay careful attention to what each party is saying.
Sport Relief/Gary Moyes
General Election 2015: The alternative power list Jack Monroe A food blogger who spent years on the poverty line struggling to raise her son as a single mother, Jack Monroe has come out as a supporter of the Green Party.
General Election 2015: The alternative power list Armando Iannucci The Thick Of It creator has been a loud voice for reminding people to vote, and believes that if you don't go to the polling station on 7 May, you're more likely to be penalised by whoever comes to power.
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General Election 2015: The alternative power list Simon Cowell X Factor founder Cowell said that David Cameron had the “substance and the stomach to navigate us through difficult times”.
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General Election 2015: The alternative power list Harry Leslie Smith The 91-year-old war veteran is a Labour Party supporter and a ferocious supporter of the NHS.
PA
General Election 2015: The alternative power list Eddie Izzard A staunch Labour supporter, comedian Eddie Izzard has been on the campaign trail with the party's candidates from Southwark to Crewe.
Reuters
General Election 2015: The alternative power list Al Murray the Pub Landlord South Thanet’s finest, comedian Murray is running against Nigel Farage in his constituency. Leading new party Free United Kingdom Party, Murray’s policies include bricking up the Channel Tunnel and giving the public a British moon on a British stick.
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General Election 2015: The alternative power list Russell Brand Despite famously saying there was no point in voting, Brand has now urged his followers to vote for Green MP Caroline Lucas in Brighton, and told the rest of England "You gotta vote Labour".
BBC
General Election 2015: The alternative power list Joey Essex The Only Way Is Essex star – famed for wearing a watch around his ankle and shoes a size too small so they don’t turn up at the toes – has now dipped his toe into politics. Essex (real name) interviewed Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg for ITV. He didn’t learn a lot, but reckons voting is “reem”.
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General Election 2015: The alternative power list Robin Grey – aka David Cameron’s favourite busker In April, as David Cameron strolled through Alnwick, Northumberland, a ukulele-playing man who told the Prime Minister to "f*** off back to Eton".
Kiran Moodley
General Election 2015: The alternative power list Steph & Dom from Gogglebox The super-posh couple from Sandwich staged an interview with Ukip leader Nigel Farage. Very little actually came out of the debate – apart from Farage spilling a drink down his slacks – but the couple got on with him like a house on fire.
Channel 4
General Election 2015: The alternative power list Royal baby The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s daughter Princess Charlotte could sway the election in favour of the Conservatives as people will be happy with the status quo. If it was a boy called Edward, Tories had worried it could sway the public in favour of Labour leader Ed Miliband.
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General Election 2015: The alternative power list Myleene Klass The Hear’Say singer turned businesswoman gave Ed Miliband the grilling of a lifetime, saying that his proposals for mansion tax were unfair, and that: “You can’t just point at things and tax them.”
General Election 2015: The alternative power list Madonna Posting a picture of Margaret Thatcher, the singer showed her support for the often-controversial Conservative Prime Minister. Apparently free milk in schools and miners rights are less important than a de-regulated financial market to the Like A Virgin singer.
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General Election 2015: The alternative power list Martin Freeman Bilbo Baggins has poked his head out of his Hobbit home to endorse the Labour party. Freeman has filmed passionate messages for the public to encourage people to vote for Miliband’s party.
General Election 2015: The alternative power list Gary Barlow The Take That singer endorsed the Conservatives in the 2010 election, joking: “I've only known David Cameron for about year. In fact, I was slightly worried at first, because he thought Ronan Keating was part of Take That.”
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General Election 2015: The alternative power list Caitlin Moran Perhaps the essential Twitter follow, and a booming voice for the left in Britain. Times columnist Moran constantly writes thought-provoking articles about women and being working class.
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