Victoria Coren Mitchell revealed she was once set up with a famous politician when they attended a wedding together.

The Only Connect presenter, 52, has been married to comedian David Mitchell since 2012 and the couple share two daughters, Barbara, nine and one-year-old June.

But the BBC host’s life could have looked very different had things worked out with former Labour leader Ed Miliband.

Victoria made the confession during an episode of Only Connect after a question was asked involving the 2010 Labour leadership result with brothers Ed and David Miliband, Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Good Morning Britain presenter Ed Balls.

She revealed: “Someone once tried to set me up with Ed Miliband. We were seated next to each other at a wedding. He’s actually a very nice chap, it didn’t work out.”

Victoria, who is also a professional poker player, added: “He was gallant enough that ages later we were on a political chat show together, and he claimed, ‘Oh I had no idea it was meant to be a fix up’.”

Viewers couldn’t help but comment on the revelation, with one suggesting that the presenter had a lucky escape.

“Dodged a bullet. Ed Miliband is an idiot,” declared one viewer.

Another wrote: “God, I love Victoria. That Ed Miliband anecdote was short and sweet.”

A third added: “I’m just imagining David Mitchell and Ed Miliband fighting it out for her affections now.”

Victoria and Peep Show star David have always tried to keep their private lives out of the spotlight. Last year, the Ludwig actor explained why the couple rarely speak about their relationship.

“The thing about it is – in an interview people often ask about her. And when I’m asked about her, I’m going to say that I love her and she’s amazing,” he told RadioTimes. “But I wouldn’t have brought her up. And I don’t mean that disrespectfully. She’s often on my mind.”

David continued: “At the same time, I think I have a very happy marriage to a wonderful person, but I don’t consider that to be of broader interest.

“And so I always feel in this situation that I don’t want to be coy and say, ‘I refuse to discuss my wife – let’s talk about scene 15, it’s such a wonderful puzzle.’ But at the same time, by answering the implication can be that, ‘He can’t stop going on about his wife – OK. You like your wife. Get over it’.”