Mandy wants a shot at Strictly Come Dancing

The harsh criticisms dished out to Strictly Come Dancing contestant John Sergeant – the former political correspondent has been labelled "a dancing pig" and condemned by many of the judges as a useless performer – does not appear to have put Lord (Peter) Mandelson (pictured) off the show.

In fact, the Business Minister revealed yesterday on BBC Breakfast, in between discussing the Government's efforts to rebuild the economy, that he would like to appear on the programme.

"I was cheering for John Sergeant on Saturday with, I have to say, a degree of envy," he revealed. When asked if there was a possibility of his appearing on the show, he replied: "It would be nice to be asked." However, he declined the offer to demonstrate his cha-cha-cha there and then, saying: "Not this morning, because it's too serious, but another day invite me back and I will show you what I can do."

So is he any good? His friend and former advisor Derek Draper thinks so. "I saw Peter take the floor at the 1994 Young Labour disco," he recalled to the Times. "He set the dancefloor alight. It really was extraordinary."