TV personality isto stand for UKIP

The announcement that Mr Michael was standing as UKIP’s parliamentary candidate for the local area came about after the previous candidate, Ralph Atkinson, was deselected by the Hastings and Rye branch.

The son of Greek immigrants, who came to East Sussex in 1951, Mr Michael was born in the county where he has lived all his life.

Married with four children, Mr Michael features, with his family, in Channel 4’s Bafta award-winning programme

The 55-year-old is state-school educated, graduating from the London School of Economics and Political Science with a Master’s degree in European Politics.

He attends the Greek Orthodox church in St Leonards.

Mr Michael says he is passionate about UKIP and is pleased to be representing the party in the local area.

He said: “I am delighted to have been chosen to fight for Hastings and Rye on behalf of UKIP, the party that has brought democracy and choice to British politics.”

In a statement UKIP said Mr Michael, a former hotelier, having owned and operated a number of large hotels, is clear on the requirement for business to invest in its people.

The statement added: “Andrew is keen to fight for the interests of the people of Hastings and Rye in Parliament especially in securing regeneration funding for the constituency.”