As the results of the 2013 local elections come in one thing is clear; Ukip are going to have to be taken seriously.
The party of "clowns and fruitcakes" made impressive gains at the expense of the two coalition parties sending what party leader Nigel Farage described as a "shockwave" through the establishment.
He said: "We've been abused by everybody, attacked by the entire establishment, who did their best to stop ordinary decent people from going out and voting Ukip and they have done in big, big numbers.
He added: "Send in the clowns."
It marks a peak in the turbulent history of Ukip.
Since their founding in 1993 they have struggled to gain a foothold in Westminster and have had limited success in the European Parliament.
Along the way their have been embarrassments, power struggles, accusations of racism, Kilroy and even a plane crash...