Andy Burnham's wife, Marie-France van Heel, appeared on the hit TV dating show Blind Date while the couple were in a relationship, it has emerged. The revelation comes as Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, is tipped as a potential successor to Sir Keir Starmer as UK Prime Minister.
Permission Granted for TV Appearance
Van Heel, a Dutch-born marketing executive commonly known as Frankie, met Burnham while both were studying English at Cambridge University. During their early relationship, she asked him for permission to appear on the show. Burnham reluctantly agreed and later admitted to watching the episode from behind the sofa.
On the programme, van Heel chose 'Will from Surrey', who wore a red sweatshirt and dungarees. Presenter Cilla Black quipped: "I used to like Andy Pandy – and you've got a real live one."
Disastrous Date in Gibraltar
Before the date, van Heel asked Will what he did in the shower. He replied: "When I'm in the shower I generally make up poems and short stories. Oh Frankie, oh Frankie, your name is quite cranky, pick me for your Blind Date and there'll be no hanky-panky." When she asked what he would do if he were her first taste of British men, he answered: "You give me half an hour and I'll give you the best time of your life."
The date in Gibraltar turned out to be a disaster. Cameras captured Will branding van Heel a "cold fish", and she even threw a cushion at him. Fortunately for Burnham, the romance fizzled.
Marriage and Family
Van Heel married Burnham in 2000, and the couple have three children together. Burnham is now seen as a leading candidate for Labour leadership after Starmer's resignation.
Political Support
Lord Hermer, a close friend of Sir Keir Starmer, told GB News: "It wasn't an individual who won the last election. Of course, Keir led us through it incredibly successfully, but it was a party manifesto. It was the Labour Party that got elected. It was individual MPs within the parliamentary Labour Party. I'd say about Andy, which is, I'm not sure I agree with you that he's unknown in this country, I think he is very well known. I think he is coming in with a lot of popular support, and as Keir said at the lectern, and again, this is a measure of the Keir Starmer I know. Keir certainly, I can speak for myself, I can speak for all my colleagues, whoever becomes the next leader of the Labour Party, the next Prime Minister, will have our wholehearted support because the challenges we all face as a country demand it."
