He shot to fame making a monkey of himself in front of 2,000 football fans on windy Saturday afternoons.

Now the extraordinary story of H'Angus The Monkey seems set to be told before a worldwide audience of millions.

Since shocking the political world by being elected mayor of Hartlepool, the offers have been pouring in for the North-East's newest celebrity Stuart Drummond.

Now he looks set to appear on the USA's premier chat show Tonight with Jay Leno, sharing the sofa with basketball legend Magic Johnson and Star Wars star Hayden Christensen.

Hartlepool's first citizen won the election last week and within hours his campaign agent, Ron Harnish, was fielding calls from across the globe.

"Researchers from the show phoned me at home on Saturday," said Mr Harnish. "They want to get Stuart on the show and fly me and him over there to appear live."

The political fallout of H'Angus' mayoral win has marked the end of the road for two party leaders in Hartlepool.

Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Arthur Preece, a defeated mayoral candidate who said Hartlepool's monkey mayor made the town a laughing stock, stepped down earlier this week.

Then yesterday, it was announced that Labour leader Councillor Russell Hart had been ousted of leader of his party.

The Conservative group are also expected to chose a new leader next week.

Councillor Preece said his decision to step down as party leader was made before last week's election.

The 74-year-old politician, who has led the Liberal group since the early 1990s, will hand over the reigns to Councillor Andrew Ward - at 28, one of Hartlepool's youngest serving members.

Councillor Edna Wright will become the party's deputy leader after taking over from Councillor John Lauderdale.

Coun Preece will continue as a member until next year's full elections where he intends to stand down.

Labour leader Coun Hart lost out to Councillor Moss Boddy in a vote among the party's councillors on Tuesday.

The former leader of Hartlepool Borough Council will take no position of power in the party reshuffle, but insists his political career will continue.

He said: "Hartlepool knows me as a political man and I will continue to look for opportunities in politics that will allow me to represent the people.

"I have strong Labour principles and values. These, and the cornerstone of my belief in democracy and commitment to Hartlepool and its people are my goals for the future."

Coun Harry Clouth continues as deputy leader, Coun Sandra Fenwick is the Labour group secretary and Coun Carl Richardson becomes the chief whip.