Prince who can't dance to star in Italy's 'Strictly'

Emanuele Filiberto, the grandson of the last king of Italy, will be the latest celebrity contestant on Italy's version of Strictly Come Dancing – Ballando con le stelle.

"I don't know how to dance," he said. "I've been learning recently with an exceptional master. I'm exhausted but I'm also having a lot of fun." While he expected criticism from monarchists for his decision to take part in the show, he said: "I intend to live in our times. We are practically in the year 2010. I have a family with two children to maintain – I've worked since I was 19 and no one has given me anything."

Born in Switzerland in 1972, the prince was barred from entering Italy as a descendant of the Savoy kings until 2002. He is already a frequent figure on TV and stood in the general election but believes the Italian public do not know him. "I am convinced that [through the show] Italians will finally be able to understand who Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia really is."