Heather Mills puts extra zing in new Dancing with the Stars
02/21/07 09:03 AM
By ED BARK
Odds are at least a gazillion trillion to one against Sir Paul McCartney showing up to cheer for her from the peanut gallery.
Otherwise who knows how America will greet Heather Mills, the spiciest new contestant on ABC's Dancing with the Stars.
The show's 11 incoming hoofers were announced by former entrant Jerry Springer on Wednesday's Good Morning America. Mills' name was saved for last, and understandably so. She's been embroiled in a bitter divorce spat since splitting with McCartney last May. The British tabloids generally have sided with him, portraying her as a gold-digging trap-layer.
Mills also might engender sympathy, though. She's the first Dancing contestant to compete with an artificial limb, having lost her left lower leg below the knee after being hit by a police motorcycle in 1993.
Former Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith won the show's third edition with pro partner Cheryl Burke. This time she'll be teamed with ex-Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Ian Ziering, with competition scheduled to get underway on Monday, March 19.
Here are the nine other celebrity entrants:
Clyde Drexler, former University of Houston basketball star who also played on the 1995 Houston Rockets NBA championship team.
Leeza Gibbons, who broke into the biz as a co-host on Dallas-based WFAA-TV's PM Magazine before joining Entertainment Tonight for a long run. She's now hosting the syndicated radio show Hollywood Confidential.
Billy Ray Cyrus, the "Achy Breaky Heart" heartthrob now better known as daughter Miley Cyrus' dad on the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana.
Apolo Anton Ohno, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in the short-track speedskating competition.
Paulina Porizkova, wowsy ex-Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue mainstay who adorned the cover twice.
Vincent Pastore, best known as oafish, ill-fated Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos.
Laila Ali, boxing daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali
Joey Fatone, ex-member of boy band NSYNC.
Shandi Finessey, 2004 Miss USA victor who currently co-hosts Lingo on the Game Show Network.
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