A Jeremy Corbyn-loving comic has admitted to a “pleasant realisation” that people are not racist in “UKIP country.”

Ariane Sherine is a London-based journalist and stand-up comedian of Iranian-American ancestry, who has written for the Guardian, as well as for BBC Comedy.

With her act including a “love song” to Jeremy Corbyn, her being Asian and Walton having Douglas Carswell as its MP, she admitted to being “rather terrified” at the thought of performing at Walton’s Royal Albion.

“I tend to google the politicians. I thought ‘oh my goodness. Walton is in the only Ukip constituency’,” she said.

However, during the visit two Saturdays ago, she drove through the town where children waved as she drove past, “which I thought was really sweet,” she told the Gazette.

The 36-year-old has recalled her experience in The Spectator magazine in an article called: “What performing stand-up taught me in Ukip country taught me about racism.”

The article also recalls how people to her surprise and relief smiled when she went on stage and laughed all the way through her act, including that love song to Jeremy Corbyn.

“Whatever else the audience were, they weren’t racist. In fact, it occurred to me as we drove home, I was the prejudiced one, the one full of preconceived ideas about what other people were going to be like before getting to know them,” she wrote.

“I’d happily play Walton-on-the-Naze again- Ukip voters or no Ukip voters,” she added.

Ariane said this was her first visit to the area.

“I used to write for the Guardian. I have never met anyone who voted UKIP before. Most people in London generally vote Labour,” she told the Gazette.

“It was a pleasant kind of realisation that my kind of prejudices weren’t confirmed and were dispelled,” she said.

But what about Ukip?

“I got a very nice invite from the party chairman Paul Oakden to perform at their party conference. It was nice to be asked but my heart belongs to Jeremy Corbyn,” she said.

Walton Mayor and resident Jack Robertson was upset people might think Walton residents are racist.

“It’s a different place to London. We’re a friendly lot. We are NOT racist. I get annoyed at people saying people are racist. It’s them that brings race into it,” he said.

Jack Parsons, Clacton UKIP party secretary and Walton resident, said racism was a mistaken perception peddled by both Labour and the Conservatives as Ukip “threatens the status quo”.

Ukip had done much to distance itself from the BNP and the English Defence League and he wanted Ukip known for other policies like supporting grammar schools.

Mr Parsons praised Ariane for admitting her mistake and changing her mind on seeing people. There are ‘bad eggs’ in everybody but Walton has many who do good works for the community.

“It’s a shame I missed her show but I will support her next visit. I am always up for a good laugh, otherwise, I wouldn’t be in Ukip,” he added.