ANTON Du Beke has said Jacqui Smith has "potentially the biggest journey" of any of the contestants on Strictly Come Dancing, but he is still optimistic for an "outright win".

The show's longest serving professional dancer has never lifted the glitterball trophy and this year has been paired with the former Redditch MP and Home Secretary on the BBC show.

The duo are currently at the bottom of the leaderboard after their first dance together of a foxtrot with top hats.

On Saturday they will attempt a samba to Help Yourself by Tom Jones, and Du Beke said the politician is doing well.

Du Beke told ITV's This Morning: "I think Jacqui has got potentially the biggest journey of anybody on the show.

"Politicians are notorious for working from the neck up, everything is high intellect and not a lot of movement required.

"I think the launch show to the first show last week was the biggest change of anybody on the show, I thought.

"I thought she was absolutely brilliant - elegant, wonderful hat and cane work, and I think she's made the biggest improvement of anyone and we are doing another dance this week and she's coming on fabulously so I'm absolutely delighted with her.

"She's doing really well so I think there could be a chance of an outright win this year, but then I would say that."