Eddie Izzard races across Britain, says: I’ve run the country _ now let me run for office

Izzard: I’ve run the UK, now will run for office

LONDON — A comedian who has completed the equivalent 43 marathons across Britain says after running the country, he wants to run for office.

Eddie Izzard, a double Emmy award-winner, says he hopes to make a new career in politics.

The 47-year-old was greeted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday, a day after he completed a 1,100-mile (1,770-kilometer) run across Britain.

Izzard says he plans to stand for Parliament, or as a European legislator, at some point in the next 10 to 15 years. He has previously campaigned for Brown’s governing Labour party.

Izzard is best known to U.S. audiences for his roles in FX’s “The Riches” and Tom Cruise’s World War II drama “Valkyrie.”