Hugh Grant is widely acknowledged to be the last UK Prime Minister to win a Christmas election.

That was playing the Prime Minister in the renowned, saccharine Christmas rom com Love, Actually (2003).

Mr Grant's current involvement in British politics is explicitly out of character — as his visit to Esher and Walton on Saturday (December 7) showed.

The award-winning actor is encouraging voters to oust the Conservative government by voting tactically for their closest challengers in a number of seats on polling day this Thursday (December 12).

Your Local Guardian: Image: Nadia Valjalo Image: Nadia Valjalo

Since the election was called several weeks ago, Mr Grant has canvassed for several candidates from different parties, including Labour's Faiza Shaheen in Chingford and Woodford Green and former Conservative Dominic Grieve in Beaconsfield.

On Saturday, Mr Grant lent his support to Liberal Democrat candidate Monica Harding, who hopes to oust sitting Conservative MP and current Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

The pair joined Lib Dem canvassers to knock on doors and speak to voters in Walton on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Raab is facing mounting pressure to retain the Esher and Walton seat that he won by a healthy majority of over 23,000 at the 2017 General Election.

Polling by Deltapoll suggested recently Ms Harding was within five percentage points of Mr Raab's lead.

Your Local Guardian: Image: Nadia ValjaloImage: Nadia Valjalo

The Comet has interviewed the candidates in Esher and Walton and published quotes from their responses in individual pieces (see below).

https://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/18061502.esher-walton-general-election-2019----monica-harding/

https://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/18067014.esher-walton-general-election-2019----dominic-raab/

https://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/18069951.esher-walton-general-election-2019----peter-ashurst/

https://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/18064660.esher-walton-preview----kylie-keens/