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Former Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls is to become the first male politician to appear on Strictly Come Dancing .

The ex-MP, who lost his seat in the general election last year, follows in the footsteps of Tories Edwina Currie and Ann Widdecombe and Liberal Democrat Sir Vince Cable, who once appeared in a Christmas special.

Balls’ decision to sign up for this autumn’s run of the BBC ballroom show ties in with the release of his memoirs in September. Called Speaking Out - Lessons in Life and Politics, the book is billed as a “brave and revelatory account” of his time on the Labour front bench.

Last year the dad-of-three claimed he wasn’t “equipped” for Strictly, worrying that he wasn’t fit enough.

But now Balls, who is married to MP Yvette Cooper, has put his misgivings aside.

(Image: Andy Stenning Daily Mirror)

The 49-year-old joins a line-up believed to include singer Will Young, actress Lesley Joseph, former royal butler Paul Burrell and TV presenters Louise Redknapp and Laura Whitmore.

Friends have described Ed as an enthusiastic dancer – he was spotted letting his hair down to Gangnam Style at the Labour Party conference in 2014.

One source said: “Ed has got some moves. Seriously. He might do rather well.”

The BBC declined to comment.

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Balls takes part in the annual MPs vs journalists football match and is known to have a competitive streak.

Mulling his chances of doing well on the show a year ago, he said: “Three marathons means I’m fit, but am I really fit enough for Strictly?

“When you look at it, the people who succeed on Strictly tend to be half my age and to have played international sport or been at stage school and on the stage.

“I’m not quite sure if I’m quite equipped for Strictly.”

(Image: Getty)

He ran his best marathon in 2014, achieving his goal of breaking the five-hour barrier with a finishing time of 4hrs 57mins.

It’s unclear what Cooper will make of her husband’s decision to join the Saturday night show.

Speaking on Radio 4 after he lost his Morley and Outwood seat to the Tory candidate in 2015, she laughed: “Somebody said maybe he should go and do Strictly Come Dancing - which is a terrifying thought.”

Ed Balls is the first politician to appear in the main Strictly show. Vince Cable appeared as a contestant in the BBC's Christmas 2010 contest.