FORMER Hagley schoolteacher turned home secretary Jacqui Smith has signed up for this year's Strictly Come Dancing.

In a tweet, BBC Strictly said former Redditch MP Ms Smith, who taught at Haybridge High School in Hagley before becoming getting into politics, is 'getting ready to govern the dance floor' and is 'making Strictly her new constituency'.

The 57-year-old, who quit her job in 2009 after a porn expenses scandal, completes the lineup for the 2020 series. 

The new series of the popular dancing competition will start in October. 

The politician turned dancer said: “I was speechless with excitement at being asked to join Strictly – and that’s very rare for me.

“Fifty years ago, I got a bronze medal for Scottish Highland Dancing and it feels about time to return to dancing.

“I couldn’t be in better hands with the Strictly team and I’m going to throw myself into the challenge. Watch out.”

Ms Smith has lived most of her life in Worcestershire, working as a teacher at local schools including Haybridge where she was head of economics before being elected to Parliament.

She was the MP for Redditch from 1997 until 2010, the first female Home Secretary and the third woman to hold one of the Great Offices of State, after Margaret Thatcher (Prime Minister) and Margaret Beckett (Foreign Secretary).

Deputy leader of Redditch Borough Council Mike Rouse tweeted: "Best of luck @Jacqui_Smith1; I'm sure all of Redditch will be rooting for you to win!"

Ms Smith was one of the MPs investigated by the parliamentary commissioner for standards over a variety of inappropriate expense claims.

Her case was arguably among the most significant of the MPs' expenses cases.

She will be competing on the show with the other contestants revealed - Caroline Quentin, Jason Bell, Max George, Ranvir Singh, Clara Amfo, Bill Bailey, JJ Chalmers, Jamie Laing, Maisie Smith, HRVY, and Nicola Adams who is set to make history on the show as the first celebrity to compete with a same sex partner.