Ann Widdecombe on Strictly Come Dancing - 'like watching the Ark Royal taking on the stormiest of sea'

His Grace has never seen 'Strictly Come Dancing' (he has no idea why it is 'strictly': is there a lax, loose or liberal version?), and there is nothing that would tempt him from his usual Saturday evening leisure pursuits.

Except that the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe dancing with someone called Anton du Beke appears to have captured the imagination of the nation.

Why is it that one of the most 'right-wing' politicians - now a devout Roman Catholic who opposes abortion, holds zero tolerance on cannabis, was against the repeal of Section 28 and is a climate-change sceptic - should be able to commute being the darling of the Conservative Party conference into being a darling of the nation?

Whether her performance in this waltz was 'local authority' or not is beyond His Grace's discernment.

But the head judge, Len Goodman, said that the anticipation of seeing her dance is greater than any celebrity he has ever seen.

Curious, that.

In this superficial age of relativism and celebrity, might one dare to sense a flicker of admiration for a politician of conviction?

Or is everyone simply waiting for the Ark Royal to meet the fate of the Titanic?