First Dates: 'I have never done a totally blind date before,' says Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant

The 67-year-old MP for Lichfield messaged his followers: "I'm on @FirstDates making a tit of myself. Watch the trailer!"

The footage reveals the outspoken MP, who has never married and has described himself as 'not exclusively gay', having dinner with a woman.

In the trailer he jokes 'I like to tell people I'm from Home And Away' and is seen asking his date if she has met the right person in him. He makes a frustrated gesture when she replies 'We've only just met.'

The former Conservative Party vice-chairman is not taking a fee for the programme. Instead £20,000 will be donated by programme-makers Channel 4 to the Stand Up To Cancer charity run by Cancer Research UK.

Last year Mr Fabricant revealed in the Commons that he was being treated for prostate cancer and warned of a shortage of NHS nurses specialising in prostate cancer care.

He said of his First Dates experience: “It was a sometimes terrifying whirlwind date – I have never done a totally blind date before."

Prime Minister Theresa May announced his TV appearance to bemused MPs during Prime Ministers Questions last month. Mr Fabricant had asked her about the West Midlands' bid to host the Commonwealth Games when she made the revelation.

Rather than give him a straight answer, the PM quipped: "I have noticed that he is shortly to appear on a Channel 4 programme called Celebrity First Dates. What I'm not sure about is whether he is the celebrity or the first date."

Also on the programme are X Factor winner Matt Terry, Capital FM radio presenter Roman Kemp, singer Sinitta and former newsreader Jan Leeming.

The show has previously featured television presenter Esther Rantzen, EastEnders actor Richard Blackwood, weather presenter Sian Lloyd and Vamps lead singer Brad Simpson.

Mr Fabricant's date will be screened on Channel 4 at 9pm this Thursday.