Comedian, and London mayoral hopeful Eddie Izzard has spoken about being abused and assaulted because he is a transvestite to say he thinks it has made him tougher, and therefore more prepared for politics.

In an interview with Radio Times, Izzard said he had endured verbal and physical assaults, and that he thought they had prepared him to run for Mayor of London in 2020.

“I’ve had people attack me on the street, I’ve had people shout endless abuse at me,” he said.

“If you’re going to be a transvestite, and you’re going to be out in public, you’ve got to be tough enough. I’ll just try and be as positive and open as I can. And try and have a bit of privacy for myself. And see how it goes.”

Continuing, he said he had been forced to get physical with assailants on a couple of occasions, but that he had been victorious.

Of his republican stance, which some said will cost him votes in his mayoral campaign, Izzard said: “I am not into monarchy. Hereditary privilege is crazy to me. We should widen the gene pool, and elect a head of state for five years.”

Speaking of his potential Labour candidacy for Mayor of London 2020, he said he still intended to stand, but refused to do so in 2016, “because I’ve spent so many years putting this career together. If I’m going to pack it away or put it into hibernation, I need to pack it away correctly.”

He previously said he would stand to become an MP, saying: “I’ve said I will stand as an MP or MEP at some stage in 10 to 15 years, I like to make long announcements. But at the moment I’ve spent so long trying to get my career going I don’t want to throw it away.”

His efforts to run 43 marathons in 51 days took him more than 1,000 miles and he raised £200,000 for charity.