The wife of Britain’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, once starred on the legendary TV romance show Blind Date.
Back in 1992 Marie-France van Heel appeared on the show, hosted by Cilla Black, and went on a date to Gibraltar with Will Harris, who’d ironically go on to become a Tory party marketing executive. However, it didn’t work out and Dutch-born Marie-France went on to wed Mr Burnham in 2000.
But she isn’t the only person to find fame after appearing on the ITV series. Here’s a closer look at other famous faces that have appeared on the show before.
Amanda Holden: The future Britain’s Got Talent judge was an unknown when she appeared in the show in 1991, aged 19. The then drama student has since revealed she was already in a relationship at the time and only went to the auditions to keep a friend company.
She says: “Luckily, I didn’t get picked.” She told Cilla her celebrity crush was actor Jack Nicholson and said she preferred “experienced, mature men.”
Jenni Falconer: Before working on shows like This Morning, the star went on Blind Date as an 18-year-old student. In the 1995 episode, the Scot ended up on a date in Brittany with 20-year-old chip shop worker Donda Michaelas. Romance didn’t blossom, but the pair remained pals.
Jenni said: “I just went on the programme for fun, but I got a real taste for television.” Within weeks she’d landed a TV reporting job thanks to her stint on the show.
Ed Byrne: The comedian, now known for popping up on shows like Mock the Week, starred on Blind Date before he was famous back in 1993.
But he didn’t get picked, later admitting sorely: “She chose Gavin the stripper from King’s Lynn!”
Ortis Deley: Later known for presenting the kids TV show Live & Kicking and The Gadget Show, the star appeared on Blind Date in 1994, aged 22.
He sang to student Cherie, on their date in Seattle, and was talent-spotted. He’s since 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: In 2006, the beauty therapist starred on Channel 4’s Big Brother, becoming known for her tantrums and romancing fellow contestant Pete Bennett.
Three years earlier as a 21-year-old she’d appeared on Blind Date where she chose Lee, a welder, for a date, but ditched him for Alex, a 20-year-old student. Sadly, the pair didn’t gel. Nikki died, aged 38, in 2021.
Mark Speight: The future host of the children’s show SMart appeared as a contestant on Blind Date in 1989 wearing a tuxedo, though he didn’t get chosen from behind the screen.
Tragically, he would take his own life, aged 42, in 2008, after the sudden death of his fiancée, actress Natasha Collins.
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