AFTER hosting various television programmes, the Maidstone and Weald MP Ann Widdecombe will soon be appearing on our screens again - but this time during the commercial breaks.

The Conservative MP has a cameo role in an advertising campaign promoting Rana pasta products and her appearance, for which she received a fee, will be the first by a politician since the Liberal MP Clement Freud promoted the virtues of Minced Morsels dog food in the 1970s.

The advert is expected to be broadcast this Autumn but Ann, who has developed a burgeoning media profile in recent years, is keeping tight-lipped about her part.

“I can’t really say too much about it. I can tell you that it is very much a cameo role and I appear as myself. I have occasionally been asked in the past to do commercials and have said no but on this occasion, it was an interesting and witty script - and I certainly eat a lot of pasta.”

The former home office minister, who has recently hosted a three-part documentary series on ITV “Ann Widdecombe Versus...” did reveal that she had asked the company to send her a few samples before agreeing to take part. “I wanted to make sure that it was a product I liked and felt comfortable advertising.”

She also disclosed that among approaches she had turned down was one from an agency that wanted her to appear in a state of marital bliss with the American rock singer Alice Cooper.

The MP insisted that her latest television venture had not eaten into her constituency duties. “The filming took about ten minutes in London over a weekend and did not interfere with anything,” she said.