Many individuals have disastrous blind date tales, however I doubt they fall into the identical class because the expertise of the soon-to-be new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The King of the North will formally change into the nation’s chief later in the present day after assembly the de facto king who will ask him to kind a authorities.
His spouse, Marie-France van Heel, or Frankie to her pals, is about to change into a good larger public determine – however she’s no stranger to having cameras in her face.
The truth is, she as soon as loved happening a TV present within the Nineteen Nineties.
That is proper, Frankie did not go on a blind date; she went to THE Blind Date, hosted by Cilla Black. So how did this occur?
Properly, 24 years in the past, when Frankie and the longer term King within the North first began courting at Cambridge College, she had a request for her new boyfriend.
She had been chosen for Blind Date and he or she wished his permission to look on the present.
Andy agreed – though he would later admit he was watching from behind the sofa – so Frankie went to the studio.
But when Andy was fearful, he needn’t be as Frankie finally selected ‘Will from Surrey’, who wore blue dungarees and a crimson sweatshirt.
That is proper, he confirmed up dressed as Mario.
And it bought even worse once they began going by way of the traditional Blind Date questions.
When Frankie requested what he did within the bathe, Will replied, “I often make up poems and brief tales.”
![TELEVISION PROGRAM: BLIND DATE Frankie [Marie-France] Burnham on Blind Date in 1992 with Cilla Black. 'Blind Date' TV - 1992 No merchandising. Editorial use only. Mandatory credits: Photo by ITV / Rex Features (736144f) Labor MP Andy Burnham married Marie-France van Heel in 2000 ITV/Shutterstock](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/AY_19217008-80fc-e1781951277611.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
After which, as if to show he wasn’t mendacity, he rapidly rhymed, “Oh Frankie, oh Frankie, your identify’s kinda grumpy, decide me on your Blind Date, and there will not be any hanky-panky.”
Hardly Shakespeare, proper? It is hardly even William McGonagall.
Nonetheless, issues solely bought worse when she requested: ‘What would you do for those who have been my first introduction to British males?’ To which he replied: ‘You give me half an hour and I gives you one of the best time of your life.’
Charming.
Anyway, they then traveled to Gibraltar for his or her date, and the state of affairs didn’t enhance.
Throughout filming, Frankie could possibly be seen telling Will to “look enticing” as he posed for a photograph.
After they lastly bought again to the studio, Will and Frankie did not appear to be having an excellent time. Will even referred to as Frankie a “coldfish,” to which she responded by telling him to “fuck off” and throwing a pillow at him.
Nonetheless, all’s nicely that ends nicely, and eight years after her disastrous blind date, she married Andy.
However there may be one last twist on this story. What occurred to Wil? Properly, Andy is aware of him.
“My spouse and I’ve been collectively for 25 years, however within the early days she was on Blind Date,” he mentioned [via The Mirror].
‘She was the picker, and to make issues worse, she picked Will from Surrey, who finally turned director of communications for the Conservative Social gathering.’
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