Long standing Tory MP Michael Fabricant will be swapping the cut and thrust world of politics or Cupid's arrow as he looks for love on a popular TV dating show - all in the name of charity.

Lichfield MP Mr Fabricant, 67, whose constituency covers Barton and Alrewas, is hoping that romance will blossom when he appears on the hit Channel 4 show Celebrity First Dates, which will be aired in November or December.

News of the Lichfield MP's appearance on the show was revealed Prime Minister Theresa May, during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, September 13.

And it looks like the prime minister will be cheering on Mr Fabricant when the show is broadcast after she took the opportunity during an exchange in the Commons to grill him in a light-hearted fashion about his forthcoming romantic role.

Amidst boisterous cheers from MPs in the House of Commons, Mr May said: "Mr Speaker, I have noticed that my honourable friend apparently is shortly to appear on a Channel 4 programme called Celebrity First Dates.

The conservative MP said he found the experience nerve-wracking

"What I am not sure about is whether he is the celebrity or the first date – maybe he can tell us about that."

Mr Fabricant, who was first elected Conservative MP for Lichfield in 1992, told the Burton Mail's sister title the Lichfield Mercury he found his TV experience "rather traumatic".

He said: "I did enjoy it though I was very nervous to begin with because I have never done a complete blind date before, not knowing anything about the person I was meeting.

"For all I knew, it was going to be a llama! I am not taking a penny...£25,000 will be going to Cancer Research UK. But anything more can only be revealed when the show is broadcast."

The First Dates restaurant has been throwing open its doors to single people looking for love since 2013 – often guided by Gallic words from philosophical French maitre d' Fred Sirieix.

Mr Fabricant will appear in the celebrity version of the popular programme which records first dates between single strangers and their reactions afterwards.

Mr Fabricants constituency includes Barton under Needwood, Abbots Bromley, Alrewas and Tatenhill.

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