Who is the 'cool' wife of the new British prime minister? She sought love on a reality show and now sits on company boards

Andy Burnham took office as the UK's prime minister on July 20, following King Charles III's invitation to form a new government. Burnham, who leads the Labour Party, has largely been the focus of public attention, but his wife, Marie-France van Heel, a marketing specialist, is now also drawing interest.

Van Heel, known to friends and family as Frankie, was born in the Netherlands. She met Burnham in 1989 while they were both students at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. Their shared passion for music, especially the British band The Smiths, helped them connect. A former professor described her as "the coolest girl on campus," while Burnham was known for his love of football and English literature.

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the coolest girl on campus

Their relationship had an unusual television moment in the early 1990s. In January 1992, Van Heel appeared on the popular ITV dating show "Blind Date," hosted by Cilla Black. Burnham later admitted he watched the show hidden behind a sofa, aware his girlfriend was choosing a man to go on a date with on camera. Van Heel selected a contestant named "Will from Surrey," who later turned out to be Will Harris, who built a marketing career and worked as marketing director for the Conservative Party.

Despite this television detour, their relationship continued. The couple married in 2000 and have three children: one son and two daughters. They also have a Bichon Frise dog named Axel. While Burnham has occasionally spoken about the importance of family, his wife has rarely given interviews and has not sought a public profile as a politician's spouse. However, Van Heel has built a notable independent career in marketing and strategic consulting, founding her own company after working for the television company BSkyB.

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cold fish