Famous for being one half of a 70s pop duo and for appearing in the infamous ‘jungle’ which has UK audiences glued to their TV screens every Autumn, David Van Day is back on the scene but this time in a slightly different capacity to the one we are used to seeing him in.

David is making a return to the political scene, ten years after running an unsuccessful campaign in Brighton, in a bid to become a councillor in the Aveley and Uplands ward in Thurrock.

Sitting in a small café on Aveley High Street, feasting on a Full English breakfast, David explained why he chose this ward.

He said: “My wife lived in Aveley for ten years and she knows a lot about it, so it seemed to be the obvious choice really – she can help me with my campaign.

“I was a Brexiteer, I voted Brexit, and most of the people in Aveley did, so I think it was the right time for me get back involved.”

Running as a Conservative candidate, David intends to take the seat from UKIP MEP, Tim Aker, a prominent Brexiteer in the south east of England.

Thurrock Council is a politically diverse unitary authority, with 18 Conservative seats, 17 UKIP seats and 14 Labour seats – so no party is safe from losing their administration.

But David is not too concerned about UKIP overtaking the Conservatives or Labour making a return in the borough.

He said: “I think UKIP are a spent force, they’re a divided party. You have some going this way and some going that way.”

“I think the Conservatives are the party with the best economics. It’s true, austerity has been harsh for some people but we’re loosening up that debt now.

“I don’t want to be a fake Father Christmas like Jeremy Corbyn who just reckons you can have everything.”

He is excited about the plans that are being rolled out by the current administration, such as the impending Aveley Community Hub and Purfleet Regeneration.

A prominent celebrity, David already has a familiar face not just in the borough, but nationwide.

When outside the café on Aveley High Street, David was approached by a group of people who recognised him. One even referred to him as “the most famous person they have ever met.”

Braintree and Witham Times: Starstruck: Aveley residents join David for a photo oppStarstruck: Aveley residents join David for a photo opp

But known for his argumentative behaviour on reality TV shows, David wants to assure the people living in the ward he is running in that he is not the “villain” that he often portrays on television.

He said: “Reality TV is a totally different arena. There’s not actually a lot of reality in ‘Reality TV’ shows. While I’ve been good at playing the villains in reality TV shows, it hasn’t really played that well for me – I just did it for the show.

“I want people in Aveley to know that I am not that villain and I want to be a serious politician.

 “People in the street have shouted at me ‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here’ and I have replied ‘I’m a celebrity, get me in here’.”

David also said that if he were to get a seat on the council, he would naturally like to take on the responsibility of the arts – or as he jovially referred to it as the ‘Portfolio Holder for Fun’.

He said: “There’s not enough fun in politics. I think we need more compassion, fun and laughter.”

Currently living in South Ockendon with his wife, Sue Moxley, the 61-year-old will be running for the Aveley and Uplands seat in the next local elections on May 4, 2018.