A comedian with no political experience has won the most votes in the first round of Ukraine’s presidential elections, early results indicate.

With half the ballots counted, Volodymyr Zelenskiy – who plays the president on TV – got about 30%, with current leader Petro Poroshenko on 16%.

The two – who have expressed largely pro-EU opinions – are set to take part in a run-off election next month.

Former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko appears to have been eliminated.

“I’m very happy but this is not the final action,” Mr Zelenskiy told the BBC’s Jonah Fisher, minutes after exit polls were announced.

Mr Poroshenko described his second-place showing as a “harsh lesson”.

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