A new video featuring actor Martin Freeman has been unveiled by the Labour party today. This is the first big celebrity endorsement of the campaign ahead of the May 7th election.

In the video, the 44-year-old states that the election boils down to the choice between a Labour government or a Conservative one. He then moves to discuss the values of both parties and claims that the Tories will take "the country on a rollercoaster of cuts", that they "don't believe in the NHS" and "have got sod all to offer the young."

These swipes at the Tories are contrasted with what Freeman says Labour can deliver. He says that Labour will ensure "the country works for all of us, not just the privileged few like me." 

He concludes by saying, "I love this country so much and I love the people in it, and I think you do too, but really, for me, there's only one choice; and I choose Labour."

Labour party-leader Ed Miliband is not mentioned in the video at any stage. 

The voice of former Dr Who actor David Tennant, another of Labour's celebrity supporters, kicks in after Martin Freeman's piece-to-camera with a party slogan and call for viewers to vote Labour.

Celebrities are often called upon to show their support for the various parties.

Former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher was famously invited to Number 10 by Tony Blair in 1997. This is an event which Gallagher has since claimed he regrets:

"A lot of us got carried away with the New Labour thing, me included."

Comedian Eddie Izzard was the face of the Labour video campaign in the last election: 

 Take That star Gary Barlow backed David Cameron's UK-wide school talent contest during the last election:

Monty Python's John Cleese was a vocal supporter for the Lib Dems and produced a number of videos for them including this one, from 1987: