Widdecombe to show ankles on 'Strictly'
Ann Widdecombe is planning to wear her raunchiest dress to date for tomorrow's 'Strictly Come Dancing' show - exposing her ankles.
The former MP, who has become an unlikely hit in the BBC1 show, will don the gown when she performs the Charleston, although it will be a far cry from the usual above-the-knee flapper girl outfits.
Ms Widdecombe, 63, is stepping back from the most risqué elements of the dance by dropping some traditional moves, she said today.
"There are various ways of doing the Charleston, there's no need to turn it into a mating dance," she said.
"It isn't necessary to flash your knickers to do a decent ballroom dance. It isn't necessary."
But she added: "I don't expect to have any trouble with the saucy element."
Her partner Anton Du Beke took her through some of the classic moves earlier in the week, including cartwheels and the splits.
But she told him she would not be doing such acrobatic manoeuvres.
"I'm not Felicity (Kendal) you know," she told him.
Ms Widdecombe has become hugely popular with fans despite her less accomplished approach to the show's dances.
But producers have ensured she has made an impact with spectacular routines which have so far seen her flying on wires and being dragged around the dancefloor by Du Beke.
Unlike another unpolished but popular contestant John Sergeant, Ms Widdecombe has said she has no intention of stepping down from the show until she is voted out.
Online bookmaker Betfair now puts her at 8-1 to win the competition, ahead of contestants such as Pamela Stephenson and Patsy Kensit. However it ranks Matt Baker as favourite at 15-8.
Although ITV rival 'The X Factor' is ahead in UK ratings, 'Strictly' has been narrowing the gap for its Saturday night shows. And last week it drew a larger proportion of the available audience.
Strictly had a 47.6% share of British viewers, compared with 'X Factor' enjoying 47.1%.
