Ann Widdecombe to waltz into Market Drayton

She has gripped the nation with her dancing exploits on television, but now she is heading to Shropshire to give people the cha-cha-chance to find out about her life in politics.

Ann Widdecombe is due in Market Drayton in March to lift the lid on her life as a novelist and one-time Conservative MP. The town's Festival Drayton Centre arts venue has signed up the in-demand star hot on the heels of her success on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

Billed as An Audience with Ann Widdecombe, the event will be staged on March 26 from 7.30pm, with tickets priced £18.

Geoff Vernon, chairman of the Festival Drayton Centre, said the high profile booking was proof a recent £200,000 revamp was attracting bigger and better acts to the venue.

He said: "We were thinking about booking Ann for a while, even before she widened her appeal with recent happenings.

"An Audience with Ann Widdecombe has always been a very popular event, even before her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, because of the high level of audience interaction. We're absolutely delighted to get her now."

Ann's antics on the BBC1 show have included an Argentine tango that saw her descending from a balcony bathed in dry ice, and a Charleston where she was dragged around the dance floor on her bottom.

She has now reached the final six on the show. But while the public seem to love watching Ann dance, some of the show's judges have been less charitable.

Craig Revel Horwood told her after one performance: "You were completely galumphing around, darling!"

For tickets to see Ann Widdecombe in Market Drayton call the box office on (01630) 654444.