Pauline Hanson has controversial views on Asian immigration

Ms Hanson had signed up to appear in the reality TV show Dancing With The Stars, based on the hit BBC series Strictly Come Dancing.

But the controversial politician seems far from ready to abandon her day job.

She is said to be considering running for a Senate post in Australia's parliamentary elections on 9 October.

Ms Hanson and six other Australian celebrities will be paired with professionals in the ballroom dancing show.

They will compete in a live knock-out competition over a series of weeks, broadcast on the Channel Seven network.

The show is scheduled to begin in October.

Right-wing maverick

Ms Hanson first came to prominence in 1996, when she was elected in the previously safe Labor seat of Oxley in Queensland.

Her condemnation of Asian immigration and Aboriginal welfare systems angered many liberals, but struck a chord with other Australians.

The peak of her popularity came in the 1998 Queensland state election, when her One Nation party won 11 seats and captured almost 25% of the vote.

But Ms Hanson's fortunes have declined since then, and she was even jailed last year for political fraud, before being released 11 days later when her conviction was quashed.

Ms Hanson said last November that she would "have to have rocks in my head" to re-enter politics.

She may regret that comment if she chooses to run for Parliament again.

She has until noon on 16 September to lodge her nomination.