Norwich City chairman Ed Balls has admitted wife Yvette Cooper thinks he will be a dance disaster when it comes to the romantic dance of the rumba.

Eastern Daily Press: Laura Whitmore and Ed Balls at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2016 at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire. Picture date: Tuesday 30th August, 2016. See PA story SHOWBIZ Strictly. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire.Laura Whitmore and Ed Balls at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2016 at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire. Picture date: Tuesday 30th August, 2016. See PA story SHOWBIZ Strictly. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire. (Image: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

The former Labour minister is one of 2016's crop of famous faces taking part in BBC contest Strictly Come Dancing, but at the show's launch event he revealed that MP Cooper didn't think much of his moves.

Talking to Strictly: It Takes Two host Zoe Ball on the BBC's Red Button promo content for the show, he reckoned his wife of nearly 20 years would be left cringing if he attempted the rumba, known for being the most romantic dance.

He said: 'I would like to commit to the rumba, but Yvette says I'm not allowed to do it because it may be appalling.

'I'm really looking forward to doing the Charleston. All that flapping about.'

Eastern Daily Press: Anton du Beke and Ed Balls at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2016 at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire. Ian West/PA Wire.Anton du Beke and Ed Balls at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2016 at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire. Ian West/PA Wire. (Image: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Balls, 49, also dropped a clanger while being interviewed alongside 70-year-old Birds Of A Feather star Lesley Joseph when he inadvertently branded her old and unable to dance.

Asked about making friends with Joseph, he said: 'All these other ones are so young and dynamic and know how to dance. We've got to stick together.'

But Joseph took it on the chin by laughing: 'He (Balls) could be my son. That's how old we're talking here.'

Balls has faced some criticism from Norwich City fans about his appearance on the dancing show after the Canaries failed to sign any players on transfer deadline day.

Eastern Daily Press: Laura Whitmore and Ed Balls at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2016 at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire. Picture date: Tuesday 30th August, 2016. See PA story SHOWBIZ Strictly. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire.Laura Whitmore and Ed Balls at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2016 at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire. Picture date: Tuesday 30th August, 2016. See PA story SHOWBIZ Strictly. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire. (Image: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Balls said on Twitter on Wednesday: 'Finished filming @bbcstrictly at 11.30pm, now on way to @BBCr4today to talk about my new book, Speaking Out.'

In reply to the tweet Martin Law wrote: 'Possibly not the best tweet to make when #ncfc fans are screaming about a lack of transfers yesterday and you're dancing.'

Dave Dranfield added: 'Is that why Norwich didn't sign anyone yesterday? Too busy tripping the light fantastic?'

Show presenter Claudia Winkleman said that when she and co-host Tess Daly heard the list of celebrities taking part this year, Balls was the name that drew the biggest reaction from her.

She said: 'Ed Balls made me scream. They went '...And finally... Ed Balls'. I screamed.'

Meanwhile, former popstar and wife of footballer Jamie Redknapp, Louise Redknapp, claimed to be worried about her dancing days being behind her.

She said: 'It's been so long since I've put any shapes down, I don't know what's going to go on until I get in there.'