Kensit joins Widdecombe on Strictly Come Dancing

Patsy Kensit, Ann Widdecombe, Felicity Kendal and Gavin Henson are among the celebrities who will be showing off their moves – or lack thereof – on the upcoming series of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The number of contestants this year has been cut from 16 to 14 and they are a noticeably more starry bunch than last year’s. Then, the show was criticised for recruiting a number of young, pretty soap stars unknown to the mostly middle-aged audience.

Felicity Kendal and Patsy Kensit ought to correct that oversight, with the former becoming a sex symbol in the 1970s for her part in the hugely popular Surbiton-based sitcom The Good Life. Even as late in her career as 1995, Kendal was voted as one of FHM’s 100 sexiest women in the world. The 63-year-old is also well known for her theatre work and appeared in an episode of Doctor Who in 2008.

Kensit, 42, has had her share of stardom, most notably starring opposite Mel Gibson in 1989’s Lethal Weapon 2, although more recently she has had to make do with TV roles, such as a two year stint on the countryside soap Emmerdale from 2004-06.

Ann Widdecombe was feared and loathed by her own Conservative Party, her opponents and the general public during her political career because of her uncompromising, right-wing views on abortion, homosexuality and climate change.

However, thanks to some well-judged appearances on TV shows, such as Celebrity Fit Club, and turns as an agony aunt, she has enjoyed a softening of her image. She is expected to get the ‘John Sargent’ sympathy vote.

Although an absolutely useless dancer, former political journalist Sargent was consistently kept in the 2008 competition thanks to the votes of viewers who fell for his charm and unself-conscious attitude.

As for those youngsters who do actually watch Strictly, they will have to do with Gavin Henson for now. The 28-year-old glamour boy of Welsh rugby recently split from his partner Charlotte Church, with whom he has a young daughter. ·