Sequins at the ready! Nancy Dell'Olio signs up for Strictly Come Dancing - and she's ALREADY training

By Iona Kirby

Last updated at 5:51 PM on 18th August 2011

She's famous for her flamboyance and now Nancy Dell'Olio's wardrobe is about to get even glitzier.

The ex-girlfriend of former England football manager Sven Goran Eriksson will be a contestant in the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The Daily Mail first told how Miss Dell'Olio, 49, was in the running to be signed up for the show last month.

Rumba ready: Nancy Dell'Olio, pictured here for the Red Cross, will be a contestant on this year's Strictly Come Dancing

A BBC insider said of the Italian at the time: 'She is under consideration but we are talking to a number of people about their availability.’

However it has now been revealed that Nancy is so determined to win, she has began a gruelling exercise routine to shape up - and enlisted the help of a dance instructor to get to grips with those tricky steps.

She has also begun rigorous training including swimming and cycling to better her fitness level.

Infamous: Nancy is known for her wacky outfits and high-profile relationships

A friend has said that the property lawyer has her eye on the glitterball trophy: 'Nancy has never done anything by halves and she is 100 per cent determined to succeed and is desperate to impress.

'She is working really hard to make sure she stays in the series for as long as possible.'

But winning is not Nancy's only motivation for joining the celebrity series.

In the spotlight: Nancy found fame as Sven Goran Eriksson's girlfriend

After a string of relationships with high-profile men, she hopes to earn the spotlight in her own right.

The source said: 'She's hoping that appearing on Strictly will boost her individual profile.

'She became famous for her relationship with Sven and was in the public eye again after what happened with Sir Trevor. But now she wants the public to get to know the real Nancy.'

Nancy found fame after beginning a relationship with Sven while she was still married to millionaire lawyer Giancarlo Mazza.

Eager to please: Nancy is already training in a bid to impress the judges when the show begins at the end of next month

She left her husband but split with the Swedish football manager in 2007 after nine years together.

Her current partner is theatre director Sir Trevor Nunn, who separated from actress wife Imogen Stubbs in April after he began dating Nancy.

However rumours have recently been surfacing that the couple are on the rocks.

Other celebrities tipped to appear in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, which begins on September 30, include former Cabinet ministers Edwina Currie and Peter Mandelson.