You’ve to admire Ed Balls’s commitment to social media superstardom.
The former Shadow Chancellor already has his place in history secured; you can’t realistically imagine that another high-profile political figure will inspire their own annual celebration based on an accidental tweet.
Ed Balls
— Ed Balls (@edballs) April 28, 2011
Yep, the Labour man is no stranger to #breakingtheinternet, but there is more to Ed Balls than Ed Balls.
Every contestant on Strictly Come Dancing gets stuck into the competition’s infectious energy, but Ed has given it a new lease of life.
This week, the 49-year-old Norwich City chairman (honestly) performed a cowboy-fuelled Charleston that really had everything.
Banjos, hay bales, braces and an impressively synchronised routine – it was all here. And that’s before we even mention Ed playing air guitar on partner Katya Jones’ leg.
Ed Balls! pic.twitter.com/Q5VThenTkF
— Ben (@Jamin2g) October 1, 2016
Balls danced like his life depended on it. He didn’t manage to get the approval of the typically miserable Craig Revel Horwood, though, who dismissed the effort as ‘the wrong side of goofy’.
But in the eyes of the British public it was a barnstorming success. Balls, as far as Twitter is concerned, was born to boogie.
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) October 1, 2016
Ed Balls may be the best thing to happen to #Strictly pic.twitter.com/3LqbMKjskg
— Asa Bennett (@asabenn) October 1, 2016
I'm pretty certain nothing else this series – or in life – can top Ed Balls' Charleston. #Strictly
— Sid (@HertsSid) October 1, 2016
#strictly he played his partners leg like it was a banjo. The crowd went wild. That's socialism!!
— Tony Robinson (@Tony_Robinson) October 1, 2016
Even sworn political enemy George Osborne was a fan.
Come on @edballs!
— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) October 1, 2016
You can find out if Ed’s done enough to advance by tuning in on Sunday at 7:15, where the public will be voting for the first time.
Viva la Balls.
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