TORY minister turned reality TV star Edwina Currie has been announced as the celebrity judge for Bolton Hospice’s Strictly Learn to Dance Grand Finale.

The former Conservative MP — who appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2011 — will judge the 20 couples as they strut their stuff to raise money for Bolton Hospice.

Ms Currie also travelled to the outback in Australia last year to take part in ITV series I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, where she finished in fourth place.

Maria Passarello, events manager at Bolton Hospice, said she thinks Ms Currie will make an ‘excellent judge’ and offer some ‘valued critique’ for the amateur dancers.

She said: ‘We are incredibly grateful to Edwina for her support of Bolton Hospice and look forward to welcoming her along on the night.

“This event is set to provide a fantastic night of entertainment for all our guests and we are enormously grateful to everyone that is supporting this event.

“We are hoping to raise substantial funds to care for our patients and their families.”

Dancing with Vincent Simone, Ms Currie was the first dancer to be eliminated from the BBC competition after performing the Cha Cha Cha and Foxtrot. The series was won McFly drummer Harry Judd.

This year 20 couples signed up to the Hospice’s challenge, which see them undergo 10 weeks of training before stepping out to perform three dances in a bid to be crowned the Strictly Champion, and take home the Glitterball trophy.

Last year, reporter Liam Thorp was the competition with dancer Cathy Brown.

Tickets will be on sale from the start of February for the Grand Finale, which will be held at The Macron Stadium on Saturday, March 7.

Tickets are limited and are priced at £15, £20 and £25 a head, including a hot buffet.

For more information call Maria on 01204 663055, extension three.

The Bolton News politics reporter Elaine O’Flynn is one of the amateur dancers learning to dance for Bolton Hospice. Here, she updates us on her progress.

THERE’S only a few weeks to go until the Grand Finale of the Bolton Hospice Strictly Learn To Dance competition, and the prospect of dancing in front of hundreds of people is beginning to hit home.

My partner Rick Brierley and I were complete novices when we paired to dance together in November.

Once training got underway it was clear this challenge was not going to be as easy as the celebrities on Strictly made it look, as I struggled to master even the most basic of moves.

But thanks to the brilliant instructors at A Touch of Class we are beginning to make progress — and I’m now beginning to feel like a (almost competent) dancer.

There’s been some hiccups along the way — forgetton steps, stamped-on toes, and my stubborn inability to allow Rick to lead, to count a few — but those 75-minutes lessons on Monday evenings have brightened my wintry evenings.

Rick and I have chosen the rock’n’roll as our specialist dance, but on the night we will also have to perform a waltz and a quick step for the judges to evaluate.

Here’s hoping we won’t trip or fall, but what is more important is that we raise as much as money as possible for the fantastic charity Bolton Hospice which supports so many families across our town.

If you’re able to sponsor me a few pounds and keep this vital facility free of charge, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/strictlyelaineoflynn