Ann Widdecombe falls flat as a Charleston-dancing flapper

Ann Widdecombe's usual flamboyance failed to impress the judges last night as she took to the floor in the latest round of Strictly Come Dancing . Dressed as a 1920s flapper girl, the former Conservative MP for Maidstone and The Weald was accused of "sitting on her backside" during her awkward performance of the Charleston. Appearing in an aqua-coloured dress and matching headband, her routine with partner Anton Du Beke appeared so stiff that judge Bruno Tonioli asked whether he had suffered a slipped disc. Fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood was equally blunt. "You spend in these routines a lot more time sitting on your backside," he said. Widdecombe replied "What do you do all day?", before her score of 17 out of a possible 40 was revealed – the lowest of the night. EastEnders actress Kara Tointon shimmered in a red minidress with partner Artem Chigvintsev to kickstart the night with a salsa. The judges rewarded them with a score of 36. Other impressive routines included a waltz by Matt Baker and partner Aliona Vilani, who took second place with 35. Vilani wore an ice-blue ball gown, while Baker was told by Tonioli that he "danced like a prince". Actress Felicity Kendal, 64, took to the floor wearing an electric blue-coloured ball gown. Tonioli accused her partner, Vincent Simone, of "dragging her around", but the couple scored a respectable 29 points.