Many have commented on the similarities between comic actor Larry David and leading US left-winger Bernie Sanders.

Mr David has even played Mr Sanders on the American TV satire show Saturday Night Live.

But beyond both being Jewish, in their seventies, sporting glasses and being somewhat irascible, there was nothing further to link the two – until now.

Mr David, star of Curb Your Enthusiasm, is one of the subjects filmed for the latest series of Finding Your Roots, US broadcaster PBS’s genealogy-tracing show – and it turns out the actor really is related to the popular senator from Vermont.

At a Television Critics Association panel for the ninth series of Curb, as the show is known to fans, Mr David confirmed the link.

"He's in the line... like a third cousin, or something”, he said.

"I was very happy about that, I figured there was some connection."

Mr Sanders, who ran for the Democratic nomination for President in last year’s election has joked about his similarity to Mr David before, notably at a presidential candidates’ forum last year, when he responded to news that he was going to be asked a number of non-political questions by offering a few suggestions.

“How many pairs of underwear do I have? Am I really Larry David?” the candidate said, to laughter from the audience.

Well, it turns out that the actor and senator are part of the same mishpacha – and a very hearty mazel tov to them both!