Andy Burnham is set to become the UK's prime minister on Monday, fulfilling a decades-long ambition. By his side will be his wife of 25 years, Marie-France van Heel, a Dutch-born marketing executive who once appeared on the ITV game show Blind Date.
Early Meeting at Cambridge
Ms van Heel, nicknamed Frankie, met Burnham in 1989 when they were undergraduates at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. Burnham, then in his second year studying English, described her as "the coolest girl in college." The pair bonded over a shared love of the band The Smiths.
Blind Date Appearance
In 1992, Ms van Heel appeared on Cilla Black's Blind Date. Burnham said he watched from behind the sofa. She chose "Will from Surrey," who wore dungarees over a red jumper. The date did not go well; Ms van Heel threw a cushion at him, and he called her a "cold fish." Will later became a marketing director for the Conservative Party.
Marriage and Family
Ms van Heel and Burnham married in 2000 and had their first child that year. They have three children: a son and two daughters. The family, who have a bichon frise named Axel, are described as tight-knit.
Professional Career
Ms van Heel has spent much of her career in marketing. She worked at BSkyB, founded MVH Marketing, and became chief strategy officer at London-based agency Heavenly, which handled campaigns for HSBC, England Rugby, and the BBC. She is now chief marketing officer at Iduna Infrastructure, a firm that owns large parts of Manchester's electric vehicle charging network.
Conflict of Interest Questions
When Burnham was Greater Manchester mayor, he faced questions about a potential conflict of interest regarding Iduna. He distanced himself from decisions about the company and declared his wife's job.
Life in the Spotlight
Ms van Heel has largely stayed out of the limelight since Burnham became an MP in 2001. She did not join him on stage after his Labour leadership acceptance speech but was pictured embracing him in the hall of the TUC's headquarters in London, where their children also sat in the front row. It remains to be seen how visible she will be as the prime minister's spouse in Downing Street.
