Widdecombe insists she won't step down from Strictly Come Dancing

Ann Widdecombe has insisted she will not follow in John Sergeant's footsteps by leaving TV show Strictly Come Dancing before she is voted off.

The former MP said she knew she was the "pantomime act" on the BBC 1 show but said she will stay as long as the public continued to vote for her.

Two years ago, political correspondent Mr Sergeant quit the show after the public repeatedly voted to save him despite frequently coming bottom in the judges' leaderboard.

Ms Widdecombe, the unlikely star of this year's show, has drawn some equally unfavourable comments from the judges for her routines with professional partner Anton Du Beke.

But the retired politician said she was still in one piece and will be partnering judge Craig Revel Horwood on a two-month Strictly tour. She said: "I am a pantomime act. Absolutely, I'm the pantomime act.

"We're not going to go. As long as the public want us to stay there, I shall stay there. I'd love to be in the final."