Esther Rantzen will stand in Luton South

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

Esther Rantzen has said she will run to replace Margaret Moran, who stood down as Labour MP for Luton South in the wake of the expenses scandal.

Rantzen said she had long been “fascinated by politics” and that it would be an “adventure”. She also said that “political experts have told me I would be crazy to stand, that I haven’t a hope in hell, that it will lead to humiliation and embarrassment on my part, but that she is”old enough, ugly enough and tough enough to stand a bit of humiliation”.

No mention of ideas or what she will do specifically for the people of Luton from the TV personality, then.

Ladbrokes’ odds have Rantzen as more likely to pull out before close of nomintations than to win the seat.

Labour have yet to select their candidate for Luton South, and will be fighting to defend the majority of 5,650 won in 2005.