LIVERPOOL-BORN former MP Edwina Currie was paired with professional Vincent Simone for the forthcoming series of Saturday night favourite Strictly Come Dancing.

The line-ups were revealed on a pre-recorded show which attracted 9m viewers at its peak.

The 14 celebrities now have three weeks to get into shape before they face the judges.

Half the couples will take to the floor on Friday September 30 with the remaining seven dancing on October 1.

Russell Grant, whose mother Jo is from Formby, was partnered with Italian dancer Flavia Cacace.

Strictly host Sir Bruce Forsyth predicted Grant will provide the laughs in this year’s series. The astrologer, who found fame on breakfast TV in the 1980s, has been compared to previous contestants John Sergeant and Ann Widdecombe who proved popular despite struggling on the dancefloor.

Sir Bruce said: “You don’t have to be an astrologer to see where the laughs are going to be this year.” Judge Bruno Tonioli compared Grant to a “spinning Tardis ... that will take us all into a new dimension of dance”.