The 27-year-old chat show queen is ditching her soft One Show sofa for the hard dance floor of the hit BBC One show, which draws in up to 12 million viewers.

Her involvement was kept under wraps by the corporation until yesterday, when the BBC finally unveiled the full clutch of celebrity contestants.

Among the other record 16 celebrity contestants will be GMTV presenter Andrew Castle, who will don his dance shoes with ex-EastEnders star Jessie Wallace.

One of the more heavyweight participants is the serious ex-chief political correspondent at the BBC, John Sergeant.

He has revealed he has already suffered worse injuries while training for the show than he did in his days as a war correspondent.

Sergeant is a 50/1 outsider to win out of celebrity chef Gary Rhodes, soap stars Gillian Taylforth and Phil Daniels, actress Cherie Lunghi, ex-M People star Heather Small and actor Don Warrington.

Those in with a fighting chance are athletes Mark Foster, a swimming champ and rugby player Austin Healy.

Christine has jokingly claimed that her One Show co-host Adrian Chiles, told her she couldn't dance before she confirmed she'd be taking part.

She is only one of a string of Ulster stars who have taken part.

In 2005, it was TV presenter Gloria Hunniford's turn, alongside snooker champ Dennis Taylor.

Phil Daniels predicted it would be a hard contest.

"There will be an internal battle between the ex-EastEnders. I've never done any dancing before," he said.

"I can do the mash potato and I can jump off a balcony, but I have to wait for Lulu to sing Shout before I get up and dance."

But it should be easier for Christine, a well-known fitness fanatic.

Christine became a household name since landing the The One Show job after Myleene Klass left last August.