Will Harris, a marketing executive who was once chosen by Marie-France van Heel on the British dating show "Blind Date" more than three decades ago, has announced his intention to run for Parliament as a Conservative candidate.
Harris, 56, who was known as 'Will from Surrey' on the 1992 episode, could potentially face Andy Burnham, the current MP for Makerfield, in the House of Commons after the next general election. "I could get to ask him questions one day at PMQs, which would be great fun," Harris told The Sunday Times.
Van Heel, now known as Frankie, was already in a relationship with Burnham when she appeared on "Blind Date" as a publicity stunt to boost her aspirations of becoming a children's television presenter. She met Burnham at Cambridge University, where they bonded over a shared interest in the band The Smiths. The couple married in 2000 and have two children.
Burnham, who was aware of his then-girlfriend's television appearance, reportedly watched the episode with apprehension. Van Heel later described her participation as an attempt to raise her profile for her career, embracing her "15m of fame/shame."
During the show, Harris serenaded Van Heel with poetry and offered a suggestive remark when asked what he would do if she were his "first taste of British men." The date, however, concluded with Harris calling her a "cold fish" after a trip to Gibraltar. He later stated that production staff had prompted his negative comments by falsely claiming Van Heel had spoken poorly of him.
An awkward reunion occurred six months later when Van Heel enrolled in the same marketing course as Harris. She has since pursued a career in marketing and is now married to Burnham.
Harris, who has previously worked with Conservative leaders including Michael Howard and Rishi Sunak, now runs his own marketing agency.