Former newsreader Angela Rippon, 82, is reportedly set to become Strictly Come Dancing's oldest contestant when she takes part in this year's Christmas special. The BBC competition's festive show would mark her return to the dance floor, a title she first claimed in 2023 when she appeared in the 21st series.
Before Rippon's debut, the record was held by Johnny Ball, who competed at age 74 in 2012. A source told The Sun: "Angela is thrilled to have been asked to dance again and cannot wait to find out who she has been paired with."
Pairing hopes and past performance
The source added: "She danced with Kai Widdrington before and would love to perform with him again, but she has to wait and see. Angela was incredible when she first appeared on the show. Who could forget the moment she put her leg above her head?"
Metro reached out to representatives at the BBC, who declined to comment. It was previously revealed that the upcoming Strictly Christmas special will include six previous contestants rather than new stars vying for the top prize.
Rippon's fitness and age outlook
Rippon first competed on the show three years ago partnered with Kai Widdrington, impressing viewers with her flexibility and ability to kick her leg above her head. She told Radio Times at the time: "I've told my pro partner, Kai [Widdrington], there are things I can do, and things I can't. I just want to do everything properly. I've told him: 'Challenge me.'"
She additionally told Hello! Magazine: "The fact that I can do the high kick is because I'm so flexible because I know you've got to be fit for the job you'd be doing. The most recent thing I've done requiring real stamina was when I was doing the Queen's funeral. I was on the air at 3am on television and I came off at 4:30 in the afternoon, 13 hours, and you can't do that if you're not fit."
She continued: "I know people don't describe people as fit because you're sitting down. So I mean, I think that's, you know, very sweet of her [Shirley Ballas] to have said that, but the fact that I can do splits and high kicks is kind of like a party trick, if you do the Rumba or the Cha-Cha-Cha, a really lovely Waltz and Tango that requires you to dance."
The veteran TV star also opened up about how she feels about ageing, saying it is just a number on a piece of paper. "I don't really think about my age very much. I really don't," she said. "It's a number on a piece of paper. As far as I'm concerned. I have met a lot of older ladies saying, 'Oh, we're so pleased you're doing this.'"
She added: "I was in Waitrose at the checkout loading up my groceries and the lady next to me in the queue, she said 'I just want to say that all of my friends, we say that women of our age and our hair colour we're very often invisible.' So yeah, so I'm not thinking about my age, I've just been thinking about whether I can do the steps."
