He has been sending the nation into a fevered frenzy throughout times of political turmoil for the last seven years. 

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

The engineer, from Longfield, in Kent, first started gaining an army of adoring fans in 2019 when he appeared in a tight black T-shirt before Theresa May announced her departure. 

It led his wife, Tina, to contact the Mail in May 2019 to shut down the hopes of his many admirers on social media, saying: ‘He’s my husband!’ 

Yet it still hasn’t stopped people from swooning over Gough every time he appears outside No10. 

And it continued today as Keir Starmer became the latest premier to announce his departure from No10 in another emotional speech.

As always, the attention beforehand was instead on Gough testing the microphone. 

Today, one social media user quipped that Gough was the ‘only one’ at Downing Street ‘whose approval rating is still rising’. 

While another admired his muscle-toned body and suggested: ‘Podium guy looks like he’s been in the gym since the last time this happened.’

Others hoped he would become Britain’s next Prime Minister, and said ‘he will have lots of fans’.

Meg wrote on X: ‘But may make a certain US leader very jealous.’ 

TODAY: Social media users have gone into meltdown this morning over the return of the ‘hot podium guy’ outside Downing Street ahead of Keir Starmer’s speech

Gough and other colleagues bring out the lectern ahead of Starmer’s resignation speech

Gough threw admirers into a frenzy when he placed the Downing Street lectern and did a sound check during Liz Truss’s departure in October 2022.

The simple act – so crucial in speech scenarios – meant Liz Truss was able to make her leaving remarks and depart No 10 for good.

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

In 2019, Mr Gough revealed his surprise at the attention he had received, telling the Daily Mail at the time that he ‘isn’t model material’.

He said: ‘I have to say it was great lighting to make me look that good, the sun must have been at the right angle.

‘I can assure people that I don’t usually look as well as that – I won’t be going into the modelling business just yet.

‘I’m 36 so I think my best days may be well behind me. But it’s been very funny reading all the comments on social media.’

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

At the time, he said: ‘I’ve not spoken to her yet and I’m wondering the reaction I’m going to get but she’s messaged and taken in it all in good spirits.’

2019: Gough first started gaining an army of adoring fans when he appeared in a tight black T-shirt before Theresa May announced her departure

2022: The sound engineer tests the microphone ahead of Liz Truss announcing she was stepping down following her 49 day stint as PM 

2024: He made a return to Downing Street in May 2024 when Rishi Sunak called a snap election

The PM held back tears and his voice began to tremble as he paid tribute to the support from his family

During his speech today, Starmer talked up his achievements in getting Labour elected in a statement outside the famous black door of No10.

But he acknowledged that his time had run out. ‘I know the question being asked now is not who is best placed to change the Labour Party… the question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election.’

He added: ‘I accept that answer with good grace… that is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.’

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

However, he became emotional as he paid tribute to the support from his family – saying he would now focus on being the ‘best husband’ and the ‘best dad’.

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

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

Starmer is also slated to make a statement on the G7 summit in the House this afternoon, which would have been difficult unless he had provided some clarity on his intentions.

The PM returned to Downing Street from his Chequers residence early this morning, after spending the weekend locked in talks with wife Victoria and close aides.