Widdecombe: It takes a sense of humour to appear on 'Strictly'

Ann Widdecombe admits she needs a good sense of humour to participate in 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

The former Conservative minister - who has become a firm favourite of the public despite receiving consistently low scores from the BBC One show's judging panel - is pleased she has been paired with professional dancer Anton Du Beke, as he helps to inject some humour into their performances.

She said: "It doesn't take guts to appear on 'Strictly Come Dancing'. It just takes a sense of humour, that's all. And Anton has got one. If I was with someone who didn't have a sense of humour, it would have gone terribly.

"We'd have gone in week one, because we simply wouldn't have got on. I've got a sense of humour and he's got a sense of humour. It was pairing genius on the part of the BBC. I didn't think I'd get him because he's a foot taller than me, but that's part of the humour."

The 63-year-old politician also revealed Anton has already been making plans for the show's final next month, which will see Ann "fly" again.

She added to Digital Spy: "Anton has for some time been putting together plans for our showdance if we happen to reach the final. I don't think I'm giving too much away if I say that I shall fly.

"But, nevertheless, I must stress that there are still four more eliminations between now and then."