‘Hot podium guy’ looks as weary as the nation: From fresh-faced young sound engineer for Theresa May to seasoned veteran of political disaster 

It has been driving the nation crazy during periods of political turmoil for the last seven years.

And now Tobias Gough, the muscular sound technician who has outlasted five Prime Ministers, has become the antidote to teary-eyed resignation speeches from Britain’s leaders.

The engineer, from Longfield in Kent, has been dubbed the ‘hot podium man’ since he started gaining an army of adoring fans in 2019 when he appeared in a tight black T-shirt before Theresa May announced her departure.

This led his wife Tina to contact the Mail in May 2019, dashing the hopes of many of his fans on social media: ‘He’s my husband!’

Still, that didn’t stop people swooning every time Gough stepped outside No.10.

It continued today as Keir Starmer became the latest prime minister to deliver another emotional resignation speech.

As always, it was Gough’s highly anticipated arrival that had the British salivating. When he arrived, his muscles bulging as he pulled up to the podium, the nation went into a predictable meltdown.

One social media user said Gough was the “only person” in Downing Street whose “approval rating is still rising”.

Another admired his muscular body and suggested: ‘The man on the podium looks like he’s been in the gym since this last incident.’

Others hoped he would become Britain’s next Prime Minister and said he would ‘have many admirers’.

Meg wrote about X: ‘But he might make a certain US leader very jealous.’

2019: Gough first begins winning an army of adoring fans by wearing a tight black T-shirt before Theresa May announces her departure.

2022: Sound engineer tests microphone before Liz Truss announces resignation after 49 days as Prime Minister

2024: Returns to Downing Street in May 2024 after Rishi Sunak calls a snap election.

Gough sent fans into a frenzy when he set up the Downing Street podium and held a sound check during the departure of Liz Truss in October 2022.

This simple move, so important in speech scripts, meant that Liz Truss could make her farewell speech and leave Number 10 for good.

Before Boris Johnson addressed the nation to announce his resignation as Prime Minister in July, ‘Podium Guy’ supporters called on him to intervene in the breach: ‘I vote we keep Podium Guy open temporarily and let Boris leave today,’ said one on Twitter.

Mr Gough expressed surprise at the attention he received, telling the Daily Mail in 2019 that he was “not model material”.

She said: ‘I must say it’s great lighting to make me look this beautiful, the sun must be at the right angle.

‘I can assure people that I don’t usually look this good; I won’t get into modeling yet.

‘I’m 36, so I think my best days may be well behind me. But it was so fun to read the comments on social media.

‘My phone has been lighting up with sarcastic messages from friends and family all day. Some of my friends say I should pose for the 2020 calendar, which made me laugh a lot.

‘I must have done these sound checks hundreds of times in the 15 years I’ve been in this job and everything went normal.

‘Before the Prime Minister’s resignation speech, I make sure all the microphones are connected properly and I make the news about half an hour later.

‘People nominate me for Prime Minister and shower me with compliments. ‘It’s been a very flattering – albeit funny – day for sure.’

Gough married his wife Tina in a quiet ceremony in Scotland in May 2019, just two weeks before the chaos of the pandemic.

She said at the time: ‘I haven’t spoken to him yet and I’m curious about the reaction I’ll get but he’s texted and taken it all in a good mood.’

Gough and other colleagues take the podium ahead of Starmer’s resignation speech

The Prime Minister held back tears and his voice began to tremble as he paid tribute to his family’s support

In his speech today, Starmer talked about the Labor Party’s election successes in his statement in front of No10’s famous black door.

However, he acknowledged that his time had expired. ‘I know that the question now is not who is best placed to change Labor… The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us at the next general election.’

He added: ‘I accept this answer with great kindness… so I will resign as leader of the Labor Party.’

Starmer said there would be an ‘orderly’ process to ensure his replacement is in place before the House of Commons summer recess on July 16.

But he became emotional as he appreciated the support of his family and said he would now focus on being the “best husband” and “best father”.

Close colleagues had gathered outside to watch the news being delivered. ‘We changed our party,’ he said.

This will pave the way for recently elected Makerfield MP Andy Burnham to be handed the keys to Downing Street.

Starmer is also scheduled to make a statement about the G7 summit in the House of Representatives this afternoon; This would have been difficult if he hadn’t clarified his intentions a bit.

The Prime Minister returned to Downing Street from his home in Checkers early this morning after spending the weekend meeting with his wife Victoria and close aides.