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. 

The PM announced his resignation outside No10 in an emotional speech, but all the attention beforehand was on sound technician Tobias Gough testing the microphone. 

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.

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.'

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.'

Meanwhile, wife Tina contacted the Mail in May 2019 to shut down the hopes of his many admirers on social media, to say: 'He's my husband!'.