NOTHING is predictable in politics. And sometimes it is the unpredictable which proves successful.

So it should come as no surprise that Conservatives are considering using a celebrity candidate to try to oust Jack Straw in Blackburn.

After all, they have already tried, unsuccessfully, to woo the ethnic vote with an Asian candidate and tap into the anti-war feelings created by the invasion of Iraq in recent years.

Now they want former Coronation Street actor Adam Rickitt to be their candidate at the next General Election.

The 27-year-old, who played Nicky Tilsley in the soap opera until last year, is on a central list of people approved to be Conservative candidates.

Mr Rickitt now has to apply to individual associations to become a candidate.

And Ann Law-Riding, chairman of Blackburn's Conservative Association, today urged him to apply to them.

Election history is littered with famous people who have made the successful transition to politics.

And a TV personality could tap into the large number of teenagers in the area.

But it must be a person with credibility and the respect of the young voters he is trying to attract

Tories have to ask themselves whether a B-list celebrity with a failed pop career behind him is that person.