FIRST PERSON

I lost my brother. He was vulnerable — could I have saved his life?

Jon Harvey is best known as Count Binface, the ‘novelty politician’ who is standing against Rishi Sunak in the general election next week. But there is a personal tragedy behind the comedian’s public persona: the sudden death of his beloved older brother at 43. Here he describes the worst day of his life

Jon Harvey, 44. From left: his brother, Dan, in 2008; Jon in Count Binface guise for the London mayoral election this year
Jon Harvey, 44. From left: his brother, Dan, in 2008; Jon in Count Binface guise for the London mayoral election this year
MATT CROCKETT, STEVE CLEVERLEY, PA
Jon Harvey
The Times

Some of my favourite tales end with death. At the end of the Star Wars trilogy, Darth Vader dies. At the end of the Back to the Future movies, the DeLorean dies. At the end of the latest Ghostbusters movie, the integrity of the franchise dies. But this story begins with death. Because for those of us left behind, that’s how it happens. Death strikes first, and then we have to pick up the pieces and learn to cope. Nearly a decade has passed since my darkest day, but these are still the most difficult words I’ve ever had to write: I used to have an older brother.

Seven simple words, one unbearable truth, which has just become harder than ever. Because suddenly it’s true