It’s a gag worthy of an Armando Iannucci screenplay. And yet it is real. In this week’s presidential run-off in Ukraine, 41-year-old actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a political unknown, leads the pack of candidates. His 30% share of the vote eclipsed that of his nearest rival, the incumbent Petro Poroshenko (17%). With the final vote due on 21 April, Zelenskiy’s reputation as “one of Ukraine’s most popular comedians” has sparked bemused excitement worldwide. But who is he? And what is his comedy like?
In the Ukrainian television series Servant of the People, Zelenskiy’s character – a teacher called Vasiliy Petrovych Goloborodko – accidentally becomes president when a video of him ranting about politics goes viral. And just like the character in the series, in real life Zelenskiy comes across as affable, charismatic and easy-going.
