Redbridge’s representative on the Greater London Assembly for 16 years said he is “saddened” to leave City Hall, but is looking forward to having more time on his hands... possibly.

Roger Evans is stepping down from his position in May, but the politician doesn’t foresee many gaps in his diary.

He said: “I have really enjoyed my time on the London Assembly.

“I’ve been here since the beginning and watched London transform during that time.”

Roger became deputy mayor in May 2015 and said he has been “privileged” to hold the role, adding it helped him in his campaign to improve outer London.

He said: “One of the things that was true when I first started was that residents didn’t see themselves as Londoners and why would they?

“They had an Essex postcode and didn’t feel connected to the inner city.

“Part of my work has been helping people connect with London government, which is something I am very proud of.

During his political career, Roger was occasionally mistaken for satirist Ian Hislop, who edits the political magazine Private Eye and appears on BBC show Have I Got News For You.

He said: “Once in a pub in Elephant and Castle, a man came over to say that he was my biggest fan, which I thought was a bit strange.

“It turned out that he had mistaken me for Ian Hislop, and he didn’t totally believe me when I assured him that I wasn’t, even after I refused the offer of a drink.

“Ten minutes later, some journalism students came into the pub and started filming on the next table, which then made him absolutely certain that I was Ian Hislop!”

After he steps down, Roger plans to coach people in public speaking after a “lifetime” of experience, which began at Waltham Forest Council in 1990.

He said: “When I started at the council, I could stand up and speak in public, without any hesitance and that has been very useful throughout my whole career.

“If I have any time left, I would like to travel more.”