From Love Island to Olympians: Five famous faces who stood in the Local Elections – How did they do?
There’s always been a pipeline between stardom and politics. Ronald Reagan and Volodymyr Zelensky are perhaps the most iconic actors who switched the stage for the debating chamber.
But sporting heroes have also managed to cross the divide, with football icon George Weah and ex-Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan both reaching high office after compiling a litany of accolades on the field.
The 2025 Local Elections were no different. GB News has spotted at least five interesting candidates who took to the campaign trail.
While four stood for Reform UK and just one challenged as a Conservative, only two had something to smile about earlier today.
Darren Grimes
Ex-GB News star Darren Grimes has managed to join Reform’s turquoise tidal wave after the populist party swept through County Durham.
The 31-year-old, who was an outspoken supporter of Brexit, joins 64 other Reform councillors at county hall in the once-safe Labour county.
Grimes won one of the two seats available in Annfield Plain & Tanfield after receiving almost 50 per cent of the vote.
“‘It’s been really humbling to actually receive the support of so many, and now we’ve got to actually deliver for them,” Grimes told GB News.
James Cracknell
Ex-Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell has missed out on his fourth election attempt.
Having stood unsuccessfully for the Tory Party in the 2014 EU Parliament Elections, been overlooked as the Conservatives’ candidate in Henley in 2024 and instead eventually losing to Labour in Colchester, the rower decided to put his name forward in the leafy Oxfordshire town in this year’s county council elections.
Cracknell, 52, who was once married to GB News star Bev Turner, was defeated by Henley Resident Group candidate John Gawrysiak.
Gawrysiak received 50.1 per cent of the vote, opening up a huge lead over Cracknell who languished in a distant second on 26.6 per cent.
Luke Campbell
Fellow Olympian Luke Campbell pulled over a major victory as Reform UK’s turquoise tidal wave continued to trickle in throughout the day.
The 37-year-old, who won gold in 2012, saw off a challenge from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Tories to comfortably win the Hull & East Yorkshire mayoralty.
Just moments after Campbell’s victory, Campbell said: “The reason I stood for this role was simple; to put people first in this region.
“That commitment starts now. I promise I will not let you down.”
He added: “The people of Hull & East Yorkshire have spoken and now it’s time to deliver.”
Ollie Williams
Ex-Love Islander Ollie Williams was perhaps the surprise candidate to have star status in the 2025 Local Elections.
After his appearance in the Villa resulted in 467 Ofcom complaints and a petition signed by more than 38,000 people calling for his removal from the show, the 29-year-old opted for a much lower profile.
However, in a statement about the importance of freedom, Williams confirmed his candidacy for Reform UK in Cornwall earlier this year.
He missed out on emulating Grimes and Campbell’s success, losing out in Lostwithiel & Lanreath to the Liberal Democrats.
Stiliyan Petrov
Stiliyan Petrov, Bulgaria’s most capped international footballer and a hero of both Villa and Celtic Park, might have come as a shock on ballot papers in Warwickshire today.
However, for voters in Lapworth & Kenilworth, it wasn’t the 45-year-old who was making a push for power. It was his son.
The 19-year-old, who shares his father’s name, declared his candidacy while completing his electrical apprenticeship.
He said: “I’m not looking to be a career politician. I’m looking to help the people of this area and hopefully the country one day and just create real change in this country.”
Breaking his silence on his son’s decision, Stiliyan Sr admitted: “First of all, I’ve never been into politics and I never will be.
“My son is passionate about the world and I’ve strongly encouraged that.
“Even though we haven’t agreed in certain cases, he’s his own man.”
However, Stiliyan Jr ended up in a distant third place – with the Greens narrowly defeating the Tories in his Warwickshire ward.