IT felt like falling asleep and waking in a parallel universe: Ed Balls is STILL in Strictly Come Dancing.

The former Shadow Chancellor, probably everyone’s favourite to go out of the current series of the popular TV show in the first – or at the very least the second – week, is still in there, doing his version of whatever dance it happens to be.

In fairness to him, the portly politician has thrown himself into dance, working with professional partner Katya Jones. This weekend, he donned a bright yellow suit and had his face painted green for a movie week samba based on Jim Carrey’s The Mask. Even though the judges put him Bottom of the leader board, he was probably top for entertainment.

His enthusiasm and wholehearted sense of fun have got thousands of them on his side, and voting for him. I’m not sure what we can expect next weekend — my only sentiment is “somebody stop him!”