Heather Mills to Dance with the Stars

By Stone Martindale Feb 21, 2007, 15:36 GMT

Heather Mills © Peter Rogers/Solarpix Photorazzi

Heather Mills is confirmed take part in reality television show, Dancing with the Stars, the American version of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

Paul McCartney's soon to be ex-wife, who lost a portion of her lower left leg 14 years ago, it was amputated below the knee when she was hit by a police motorcycle in 1993. Despite the hardship she will appear on the ABC show next month, reports USA Today.

Mills, 38, is embroiled in a messy marital split from the legendary singer.

Her publicist Phil Hall said: "It's something that might take her mind off some of the difficulties she's been having."

Hall told the BBC News website: "She's doing it because she loves dancing, always has, enjoys a challenge and sees this as a combination of both." Her participation was "nothing to do with the money", he added. "It's just to do with he challenge and fun of it."

The show's website said Mills would be the first contestant to dance with an artificial limb.

Former Dancing with the Stars contestant and trainwreck chat show "referee", Jerry Springer, announced the news.

"There's a lot of message in that because it's to show people whatever challenges they face in life they can dance," he said on ABC's Good Morning America.

"She might be a sentimental favorite."