The serial candidates standing against Farage in the Clacton by-election

A record number of candidates are standing in next week's Clacton by-election, but some names on the ballot will be more familiar than others.

As the main parties are not standing against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, the 33 other candidates on the ballot are either from smaller political parties or are standing as independents.

Eight of these names have already appeared on multiple ballot papers elsewhere in the UK however, including Reclaim Party leader Laurence Fox and satirical candidates Count Binface and Howling Laud Hope.

BBC Verify has taken a look at the serial candidates who have decided to stand in Clacton, how they have fared in previous elections, and whether they have ever won enough votes to save their £500 parliamentary - or £10,000 London mayor - deposits.

The Clacton by-election takes place on 13 August, and because there are a total of 34 people contesting the seat it means people in the constituency will be casting their votes on what is understood to be the longest ballot paper in British electoral history.

There are eight candidates standing against Farage who, including the current race in Clacton, will have made at least three attempts to be voted into Westminster or to become London's mayor.

They are: Rejoin EU candidate John Stevens, Social Democratic Party leader William Clouston, Reclaim leader Laurence Fox, independent Joseph 77, Count Binface, and three candidates from the Monster Raving Loony Party - leader Howling Laud Hope, Nick the Incredible Flying Brick and Baron Von Thunderclap.

UK electoral law does not prevent a registered political party from fielding more than one candidate in a parliamentary by-election. Each candidate must have a valid nomination and be authorised by the party's nominating officer.

Nigel Farage has previously stood in seven parliamentary contests since 1994, and successfully became an MP for Clacton in the 2024 general election.

Parliamentary candidates do not have to be from the area they want to stand in to appear on the ballot, but they do have to be nominated by 10 people who live in the constituency.

A £500 deposit is also required to validate their candidacy, which they only get back if they achieve more than 5% of the vote share.

Mayoral elections have stricter eligibility rules. For example, in London candidates must either live, work or be registered to vote in the capital, or rent or own a property in the city. They must also get at least 10 nominations from each London borough and at least 10 from the City of London, and win more than 5% of the vote share to have their £10