Ed Miliband was known as Ted Miliband when he was involved in one of his first political struggles, leading a rent strike on behalf of Oxford students in the spring of 1991.
ITV News Meridian dug out archive footage of a youthful grey-jumpered Mr Miliband speaking against a 27% proposed rise.
Ted showing off his bangs
He told an interviewer: "People wouldn't get angry if it wasn't unaffordable, and it clearly is an unaffordable rise.
Political Correspondent Phil Hornby showed the film to Mr Miliband, who laughed and agreed he was known as Ted then.
"I was a Ted, but it feels like a long time ago, and that's because it probably was a long time ago."
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Asked if he won the rent strike, he said: "I think we made some progress."
As to the footage, he said: "How could you possibly find it?"
He was told it was in the archive - but under Ted.
The Labour leader said he was delighted with the 10-second clip, which he had forgotten about, and had not seen since ITV regional news interviewed him at the university in 1991.