Theresa May interrupted by TV prankster Simon Brodkin during Conservative Party conference speech

It can’t have been what Theresa May was hoping for.

Before her Conservative Party Conference speech was even over, it was already clear that all the headlines would be about something other than her plan for the nation, Brexit negotiation ideas or even apologies for her performance in the 2017 General Election.

Instead, the whole thing would be overshadowed by a real surprise in the Manchester convention centre – the appearance of a prankster who somehow got past security to hand May a P45 (traditionally given to someone when they leave their job in the UK).

TV prankster Simon Brodkin, best known for his comic character Lee Nelson and his numerous high profile pranks, was behind the stunt, saying afterwards that he delivered the P45 on behalf of Foreign Security (and May’s potential leadership rival) Boris Johnson.

You can watch what happened in the video below.

https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/915535901521977344

The reaction in the hall and on social media was, as you might expect, immediate.

https://twitter.com/matthewchampion/status/915534187309957121

https://twitter.com/NickLinford/status/915534066434404354

https://twitter.com/IanDunt/status/915534310597386241

https://twitter.com/bbcnickrobinson/status/915534258965499905

https://twitter.com/mk1969/status/915533894686035969

https://twitter.com/gabyhinsliff/status/915534159879254016

https://twitter.com/hansmollman/status/915533799177453568

https://twitter.com/henrymance/status/915534891055501312

Brodkin confirmed he was behind the prank later on Twitter, after being led out of the hall by security and surrounded by a scrum of journalists.

https://twitter.com/simonbrodkin/status/915538904211709952

https://twitter.com/matt_dathan/status/915536880061571072

Past stunts include a stage invasion of Kanye West at Glastonbury and the delivery of a “bribe” to FIFA chairman Sepp Blatter at a press conference (below).

https://youtu.be/0pqO6tK8_Wg