The last dance for Widdecombe

The unlikely dancing queen had defied expectations to remain in the competition despite her less than graceful movements on the BBC1 show.

But the former MP was "disappointed" to fail to reach the semi-finals after a particularly disastrous performance in Saturday night's movie-themed show which saw her score just 14 out of a possible 40 points.

Partner Anton Du Beke managed to successfully lift "Widdy" into the air three times, but the Hello Dolly routine wasn't enough to impress the judges or the public.

Widdecombe ended up in the bottom two with EastEnders star Scott Maslen and then was chosen to be the ninth celebrity to leave the competition.

She told viewers: "It has been tremendous. Time of my life, it's been fantastic!"

She will now be taking a break from dancing until the Strictly Come Dancing tour which starts next month, in which she will be partnered by Craig Revel Horwood.