The UUP and the Conservatives have agreed on nine candidates to fight the forthcoming Westminster elections under the joint banner of the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force, or UCUNF.
The candidates include a former Irish rugby international, a former high-profile broadcaster and a Freddy Mercury impersonator.
Solicitor Trevor Ringland, who played rugby for Ireland and is behind the anti-sectarian One Small Step campaign, will run in DUP First Minister Peter Robinson’s East Belfast constituency.
Former UTV news anchorman Mike Nesbitt, who has stood down as one of the North’s four victims’ commissioners, is running in Strangford where Iris Robinson recently retired as MP.
Harry Hamilton, who as Flash Harry leads a Queen tribute band, is standing in Upper Bann.
Daphne Trimble, wife of former UUP First Minister Lord Trimble, is standing in Lagan Valley where one of her husband’s longstanding adversaries, Jeffrey Donaldson, is the DUP MP.
UPP deputy leader Danny Kennedy is running in Newry and Armagh. Bill Manwaring is challenging Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams in West Belfast, South Down MLA John McAllister is standing in South Down, Sandra Overend is running in Mid Ulster and Ross Hussey is running in West Tyrone.
UPP leader Sir Reg Empey described the UCUNF candidates as a “formidable team” and hoped the remaining nine candidates to be agreed between his party and the Tories would be announced soon.
Lady Hermon, the MP for North Down, who has refused to stand under the UCUNF
Banner, said that decision was difficult and caused her a lot of sadness. She has still not decided whether to stand in North Down as an independent, where she would be expected to hold her seat comfortably.