Vince Cable puts best foot forward for Strictly Come Dancing

Business secretary Vince Cable is to take time out from grappling with Britain's multitrillion-pound debt to tackle something of even greater national importance – BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing.

Cable will swap the dispatch box for the dancefloor when he joins TV presenters Fern Britton and John Barrowman, EastEnders star June Brown and impressionist Ronni Ancona in a Christmas edition of the hit BBC1 dance show.

Former business secretary Peter Mandelson had previously said he would "love to be asked" to appear on the dance show, but was reported to have "quickstepped a refusal" when offered the chance to go head to head with Cable.

A long-time ballroom dancing fan, Cable first revealed he wanted to appear on the show three years ago, when he was the acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, and made a brief appearance on the dancefloor with series-winner-turned-judge Alesha Dixon on BBC1's This Week.

Cable described his dance with Dixon as "a bit of a dream come true" and "infinitely more nerve-racking than standing up in the House of Commons". Dixon said of him: "He clearly knows his steps, he enjoys what he does. It looks like he's not afraid of a bit of hard work."

Cable will try his hand – or feet – at a range of dances with professional dancer Erin Boag, who has previously been paired on the show with former England rugby player Austin Healy and comic Julian Clary.

He will be the most high-profile government figure to appear on a TV reality or talent show.

Former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe is among the contestants for the current series of Strictly Come Dancing, while former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik is something of a veteran, currently appearing in ITV1's I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! and having previously appeared on Come Dine with Me and All Star Mr & Mrs.

Cable said: "I am delighted to be taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. Strictly has always been a secret, or not so secret, passion of mine.

"I hope that by taking part in the show I can inspire others to get up and do something they have always wanted to have a go at."

Cable has described dancing as his favourite way to keep fit – along with walking and cycling – and was introduced to it by his late wife Olympia.