HE has dangled from ziplines, rugby-tackled a German football legend and compared Tony Blair to a "greased piglet" – but is Boris Johnson as much fun as our city's mayor?
Not according to Derby Telegraph readers: more than half of those who voted thought our very own First Citizen, Lisa Higginbottom, was more entertaining than the Mayor of London.
The poll, on our website thisisderbyshire.co.uk, asked people whether they thought Ms Higginbottom was a livelier mascot for Derby than "BoJo" is for the capital.
And 57% of those who responded thought she was.
The 43-year-old came into office last May and has thrown herself into the role – literally – enthusiastically flinging herself off the side of Derby Cathedral, sweeping the city streets and playing wheelchair tennis.
Only this month, Ms Higginbottom donned a blonde wig, long black dress and padded pants to get on stage and sing with the Lady Boys of Bangkok in their Market Place show.
Indeed, when she first took the position, she made one of the key bullet points in her mayoral policy clear in her acceptance speech: "I want to have fun."
And on this point she really has delivered, dancing at the head of the city's Caribbean Carnival and dressing up on stage for the council's Christmas panto – all to raise money for charity.
"There's nothing I wouldn't do to raise money for charity," she has said.
"I believe we can overcome any fear if we put our mind to it. The scariest thing I've done so far was a bungee jump but I'd do one again."
Ms Higginbottom has used the attention these stunts have drawn to promote a range of good causes, like her One Punch campaign to highlight the dangers of violence, and the Derby Telegraph's Clean Up Derby drive.
She has drawn comparison with another city mayor – London's Mr Johnson.
Mr Johnson has amassed a wide cult following for his blustery, unkempt presence, his plummy, Tory-boy delivery and his fondness both for bonhomie and bon mots.
Earlier this year, he was left hanging after sagging to a halt on a zip line at Victoria Park, London.
He rugby-tackled German footballer Maurizio Gaudino during an all-star clash at the Reading's Madejski Stadium and said he was as likely to get the top job at Downing Street as he was to be "reincarnated as an olive".
But despite his giant profile, readers have thrown their approval behind Lisa Higginbottom and, when she steps down in May, there will be an enormous, pantomime-sized pair of shoes to fill.
Look at the gallery of pictures and watch the video below - then comment and tell us what you think! And don't forget to vote in our poll (top right). Do you think she has potential to be the UK's most fun mayor?
![Is Boris more fun than Derby Mayor Lisa? Not according to our readers!]( "Is Boris more fun than Derby Mayor Lisa? Not according to our readers!")
