Marie-France van Heel, the wife of Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, once appeared on the legendary TV romance show Blind Date. In 1992, she featured on the show hosted by Cilla Black and went on a date to Gibraltar with Will Harris, who ironically later became a Tory party marketing executive. The relationship didn't work out, and the Dutch-born Marie-France married Mr Burnham in 2000.
Other famous faces from Blind Date
Amanda Holden was just 19 when she appeared on the show in 1991. The future Britain's Got Talent judge was an unknown drama student at the time. She later revealed she was already in a relationship and only attended auditions to keep a friend company. She said: "Luckily, I didn't get picked." She told Cilla her celebrity crush was actor Jack Nicholson and preferred "experienced, mature men."
Jenni Falconer, before working on shows like This Morning, went on Blind Date as an 18-year-old student in 1995. The Scot ended up on a date in Brittany with 20-year-old chip shop worker Donda Michaelas. Romance didn't blossom, but they remained friends. Jenni said: "I just went on the programme for fun, but I got a real taste for television." Within weeks, she landed a TV reporting job thanks to her stint on the show.
Comedian Ed Byrne, known for Mock the Week, starred on Blind Date in 1993 before he was famous. He didn't get picked, later admitting: "She chose Gavin the stripper from King's Lynn!"
Ortis Deley, later known for presenting Live & Kicking and The Gadget Show, appeared on Blind Date in 1994 at age 22. He sang to student Cherie on their date in Seattle and was talent-spotted. He said: "The next (thing) I was being offered everything under the sun." When Cilla died in 2015, Ortis said: "I owe that lady a lot."
Nikki Grahame, who became known for her tantrums on Big Brother in 2006, appeared on Blind Date in 2003 at age 21. She chose Lee, a welder, for a date but ditched him for Alex, a 20-year-old student. The pair didn't gel. Nikki died at age 38 in 2021.
Mark Speight, future host of the children's show SMart, appeared as a contestant on Blind Date in 1989 wearing a tuxedo but wasn't chosen. He tragically took his own life at age 42 in 2008 after the sudden death of his fiancée, actress Natasha Collins.
