Former Chancellor Ed Balls revealed as the first contestant for Strictly Come Dancing
Former Labour shadow chancellor will be the first male politician on the main BBC dance show
ED Balls has been confirmed as the first contestant on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
The announcement was made on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 on Monday morning, with the former Labour shadow chancellor confirming the news he would be participating in the new series himself live in the studio.
He said: “I’d like to say I’m just really excited about learning to dance on TV, but the truth is I’m also scared to death.
“Making a speech in Parliament seems a piece of cake compared to this, but hopefully I can stick around for a couple of weeks, and have a lot of fun in the process.
“Strictly is a firm favourite in our living room, and it feels like a dream to be going on myself, especially for [judge] Len’s [Goodman]last series.
“I’m just hoping it doesn’t turn into a nightmare too quickly.”
The 49-year-old’s inclusion in the BBC One dancing show will mark the first time a male politician has taken part in the main programme, after Liberal Democrat Vince Cable took part in the 2010 Christmas special.
Ed’s participation comes after his wife Yvette Cooper ruled him out of taking part in last year’s show soon after he lost his seat as an MP in the general election.
She joked at a press lunch it would conflict with “filming in the jungle” but Ed didn’t appear on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here either.
The other names of celebrities taking part in Strictly will be announced in the coming days, but Pop Idol winner Will Young and Irish TV presenter Laura Whitmore are rumoured to be among the famous faces set to don the sequins this year.