Former Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt is a step closer to seeing his dream realised and becoming a Norfolk MP.

He was one of 10 A-listers selected to go through to the next round next weekend, though unfortunately neither of the two local candidates, including James Tumbridge, were successful. I think competing against 18 A-listers must have been the toughest challenge yet faced in any constituency, but James was not daunted by this.
It’s going to be a tough decision for the Mid-Norfolk panel, they are all high calibre candidates. I just hope those who don’t make it will consider will standing in Cambridge. I’m desperate for the Conservatives to have this university city back and with a determined, charismatic, proactive and intelligent A-lister, there’s no reason why we couldn’t.

Those still in the running for Mid-Norfolk, a newly restructured seat which will almost certainly be blue, are:

  • Louise Bagshawe, chic-lit writer
  • Vicky Ford, a former parliamentary candidate
  • George Freeman, who last year contested Stevenage
  • Samuel Gyimah, 2005 CBI entrepreneur of the future
  • Maria Hutchings, who floored Blair over autism
  • Brandon Lewis, Brentwood Council leader
  • Kit Malthouse, former deputy leader of Westminster Council
  • Anne-Marie Morris, West Sussex councillor
  • Priti Patel, former press officer for William Hague

Good luck to James too, who I know will continue searching for a local seat, he will be a great asset to whichever constituency selects him.

P.S. Here is an update from Daily Propaganda with his views of the A-listers he met at last week’s conference.