Bridget Jones author denies Sir Keir Starmer is inspiration for character Mark Darcy

BRIDGET Jones writer Helen Fielding has denied persistent rumours that Sir Keir Starmer is the inspiration for her character Mark Darcy.

Helen, 62, said the Labour leader, an ex-legal chief, was too stuffy to be a heart-throb.

Getty Images - Getty

Bridget Jones writer Helen Fielding has denied persistent rumours that Sir Keir Starmer is the inspiration for her character Mark Darcy[/caption]

Universal Pictures

Colin Firth appeared as lawyer Mark Darcy in the films[/caption]

Colin Firth appears as lawyer Darcy in the films where he vies for Bridget’s attention with Hugh Grant’s Daniel Cleaver.

Helen told Radio Times’ Christmas Issue: “Keir is fantastic. But no, I’ve never met him. They are very similar, though.

“He’s so good, decent and intelligent but so buttoned up.

“I want to say, ‘Come on Keir, loosen your tie, ruffle up your hair’.

Invision

Helen said: ‘Keir is fantastic. But no, I’ve never met him. They are very similar, though’[/caption]

Alamy

Renee Zellweger as character Bridget Jones[/caption]

“He doesn’t think of himself as sexy, but he’s really sexy.

“When he and Boris spar, it reminds me of Mark and Daniel.”

Rumours began due to Darcy being a human rights lawyer like Keir, 58,who made a name for himself on the legal circuit in the nineties when Helen got her start in newspapers.

GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk