General Election 2015: Twitter mesmerised by man with fake moustache during STV debate

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-twitter-mesmerised-by-man-with-fake-moustache-during-stv-debate-10161095.html

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A mysterious man wearing a fake moustache and wide-brimmed fedora sent Twitter into meltdown during the Scottish Leaders’ debate tonight.

As Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, First Minister, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Renni attempted to win the audience's attention, the Twittersphere was instead captivated by the mustachioed character.

Scottish singer Amy MacDonald was among the curious viewers.

Please can we just wrap this up and hear from #fakemoustacheguy it's what the people want. #ScotDebates

Does he have a fake moustache?? #guesswho #ScotDebates #fakemoustacheguy pic.twitter.com/mU2UdCRZZG

There's a man in the audience at the #ScotDebates wearing a cowboy hat and a false moustache. pic.twitter.com/U8e7P7bC42

If #moustacheman doesn’t put his hand up & say ‘I MOUSTACHE YOU A QUESTION’ then this whole exercise will have been a waste of time

But the man's guise was soon mired in controversy after he removed the moustache, with a Twitter user claiming staff running the debate asked the man to take it off.

They made my dad take off his disguise #ScotDebate pic.twitter.com/tdlBE7tIjC

THE MOUSTACHE IS OFF. I REPEAT. THE MOUSTACHE HAS BEEN REMOVED #scotdebates

And of course, a meme was born within minutes.

Clearly the thing that people will be taking away from #ScotDebates pic.twitter.com/9o7JWenyGi

That’s all folks. #ScotDebates pic.twitter.com/FDEGBvsKGz

The man was later revealed to be Danny Mcafee, a taxi driver from Dundee.

He told BuzzFeed News: “I thought it [the debate] was going to be a yawnfest. So I brought along this moustache to brighten it up a bit – it was to give my mates at home a laugh really."

In what may have been a chance meeting, or a show of electioneering genius on Sturgeon's part, the SNP leader met the once-moustached man at the end of the debate.

The outstanding performer of #ScotDebates poses for a photo with the First Minister (via @holyroodmandy) pic.twitter.com/nNqdI8IBch

The only view that matters. #moustacheman gives the win to @NicolaSturgeon. pic.twitter.com/msKmeQbkb5

During last week’s seven-way UK-wide television debate, a more vocal audience member in the form of a heckler dressed in a sheep-skin-like jacket stole the limelight as she protested about homeless veterans.