Eddie Izzard has joined the campaign to save up to a 100 flats in Chelsea. The company that runs the estate, Affinity Sutton, wants to demolish them and build new flats, but Izzard’s fear is that the original tenants will be forced out.

In a short film made for the Guardian Izzard visits tenants and looks at the history of the buildings. The Sutton Trust was set up following a bequest from philanthropic businessman William Richard Sutton, who died in 1900 and left £1.5 million for low-rental housing. This estate was built in 1913.

While he is walking around Izzard notes that the word “Trust” has been taken down from the front of one of the buildings, symbolising the way that the ethos of social housing has changed. He calls the plans "social cleansing".

The campaign has echoes of Russell Brand’s recent successful campaign in East London where Brand fought to save the New Era Estate in Hoxton. Izzard, who has made no secret of his future political ambitions, denies that he is bandwagon jumping, pointing out that he did a benefit for the Sutton Estate before Brand was involved in New Era. He also says in the film that while he agrees with some of the things Brand has said he certainly doesn’t agree with Brand’s “don’t vote” stance.

Izzard has had a busy week. Yesterday it was confirmed that he is to star in an HBO pilot entitled The Devil You Know, set during the Salem Witch Trials. Izzard will play Puritan farmer Thomas Putnam.