‘When I’m in Waitrose, women of my age thank me for being their champion’: Angela Rippon reveals the joy in her life as she gears up to take part in Strictly as the show’s oldest ever contestant at the age of 78

As Strictly’s oldest ever contestant, Angela Rippon says she’s considered a heroine by other women her age – and she loves it.

The former newsreader, who turns 79 next month, says she can’t even do her weekly shopping without being praised for standing up for the over-70s.

And she teased the possibility of her doing the splits on the show – which would surely earn her even more praise.

Ms Rippon, host of the original Come Dancing in the late 1980s, said: ‘I’ve had a lot of women say to me, ‘Oh, we’re so glad you’re doing it.’

‘When I was shopping at the checkout in Waitrose, the lady standing next to me said, ‘You don’t know me, but I just want you to know that all my friends, like me, say that women our age and with our hair color becomes invisible, but thank you, because you’re going to make headlines for us. ‘

Ms Rippon says it is a role she is very happy with because she wants to send the message to women her age that nothing is impossible and that life is still fun in later life. She says, “I think the message we need to get across is that if this 79-year-old can do it, you can do it too. So go out there, just do it and enjoy it.

‘I hope I can get older people to dance who don’t do so yet. Touch wood, I haven’t had a single sting.”

In 1976, Ms Rippon wowed the 27 million viewers of the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special when she emerged from behind her newsreader’s desk and performed a stirring dance routine to Irving Berlin’s showtune Let’s Face The Music And Dance.

Forty-seven years later, Ms Rippon says she’s so flexible she can still do the splits – and hasn’t ruled out the possibility of doing so on Strictly.

She says, ‘You’ll have to ask the choreographer about this. I think I owe it to the audience, to the producers and especially to my partner to be able to give my best, and I will channel whatever it takes so that I don’t let them down.’

Ms Rippon, who hosted the non-famous show Come Dancing from 1988 to 1991, has no time for doubts about her dancing ability because of her age.

She says: ‘Everyone has asked me my age, but I never think about it. I really don’t, it’s not important. Here somewhere, in my head, I’m still thirty.’

Ms Rippon, who led a Shape Up And Dance fitness movement in the 1980s, says dancing in old age can help keep your mind sharp.

She says, “I’ve been around dancers so long that my brain and my head know what to do, even though my body is saying, ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’

‘But we know that dance is the best exercise as you get older, for body and mind.

“It’s doing all the right things: strength, core, all the right things – flexibility, mind, you’re using your brain all the time.”

Ms Rippon signed up for Strictly after making a brief guest appearance on the show in 2022, prompting viewers to call for her to be given a more prominent role. In an episode celebrating the BBC’s centenary, she introduced Kym Marsh and her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima to the floor for their routine to Ballroom Blitz by Sweet.

Ms Rippon became the first female journalist to present BBC TV’s national news on a permanent basis in 1975. She co-founded TV-am and now co-hosts Rip Off Britain for the BBC with Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville.

To date, the oldest Strictly contestants have been 72-year-old Johnny Ball and Paul Daniels.

Children’s TV presenter Ball, father of DJ Zoe, took part in 2012. Magician Daniels, who appeared in 2010, died in 2016.

Former Birds of a Feather actress Lesley Joseph was 71 when she joined in 2019.

Casualty Doctor stops for the show

Casualty’s Nigel Harman has left the BBC soap so he doesn’t have to juggle a grueling filming schedule with practicing for Strictly.

Nigel, 50, below, who has been Dr. Max Christie stars in the medical drama, says: ‘My time on Casualty is over for now.

“I will be on screen until early next year and there are no plans at this time for me to return to the show.”

Nigel, who has also been in EastEnders, adds that he hopes Strictly will ‘boost my confidence’.

I might continue to foxtrot in drag, says West End star Layton

West End favorite Layton Williams isn’t ruling out shaking up the show with a touch of drag.

His participation in Strictly raised eyebrows as he danced on stage as Billy Elliot and also played a young Michael Jackson in Thriller – Live.

Layton, 28, says of dancing out in drag: “I like to be playful with my fashion, so if there’s an opportunity where it feels right at the time, why not?

‘I give you what feels good, it will never be a reach. It will be something that will be authentically me and I will have to represent both myself and my community. I’m ready for all things, ready to be Strictly.’

Meanwhile, Channel 4 newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy has revealed that his decision to join Strictly is not popular with everyone.

The 53-year-old says his wife agrees, but he should have consulted the whole family.

He says: ‘Everyone is very positive, but my 16-year-old son is not a fan.

‘He said, ‘Oh God, there will be so many horrible videos of you on the Internet forever.’ ‘

Comic character Les Dennis has revealed that getting fit for the show is no joke – as he walks 10,000 steps a day.

Les, who turns 70 next month, said: ‘Yesterday we danced, and today I couldn’t get up.

‘I have become fitter in the past month, which is a nice challenge. I made sure I got my steps in, I went for a walk. I can’t run anymore because I had a new knee a few years ago. My step count is over 10,000 and I definitely eat healthier.’