Andy Burnham 'fears becoming a meme on Twitter' in charity ballroom dance

Andy Burnham says he fears becoming a 'meme on Twitter' as he prepares to take to the ballroom dancefloor for a charity competition.

And the mayor of Greater Manchester says that when it comes to dancing, he's more like Bez from the Happy Mondays than fellow politician Ed Balls, who famously took part in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2016.

Mr Burnham is one of nine celebrity figures taking part in a charity ballroom dance competition on April 20 to raise funds for ex-Leeds Rhinos rugby league legend Rob Burrow's charities. He was diagnosed with the life-limiting illness motor neurone disease four years ago.

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Political heavyweight Andy, 54, says he has two aims as he performs a salsa on the hallowed floors of the Wembley of ballroom - Blackpool's Winter Gardens.

"I don’t want to fall over or drop my partner," he laughs. "That’s my worst fear. My wife Marie-France laughs every time we talk about me doing this. My kids are unsure what to expect too but I fully expect to make Ed Balls look good."

Married dad-of-three Andy says he has new respect for his former colleague and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Balls, now a TV presenter. He hasn’t hit up the former Labour MP for advice yet, but thinks he might, reports The Mirror.

Balls achieved infamy when he performed racy moves in a salsa to Psy’s Gangnam Style while Andy will do the same saucy dance with professional dancer Cara Tighe to Ricky Martin’s Livin' La Vida Loca.

Asked who his dance style was reminiscent of, Andy muses: "Definitely not Ed!" When Hollywood star Fred Astaire was suggested, he retorts: “I’m more like Bez from Happy Mondays."

Maraca-shaking Bez is best