Strictly star Angela Rippon, 78, hopes to inspire women her age to hit the dancefloor
FORMER newsreader Angela Rippon, Strictly’s oldest contestant to date, says she hopes to inspire women her age.
The broadcaster, 78, who hosted episodes of the original Come Dancing, wants to encourage OAPs to hit the dance floor.
And asked if she would be allowed to recreate the high kicks she famously pulled off in the 1976 Morecambe and Wise Christmas special, Angela said: “I don’t know. Ask the choreographers. I can still do it.”
She said: “I hope to be an inspiration. I’ve already had a lot of women say to me, ‘Oh, we’re so pleased you’re doing it’.
“When I was loading up my shopping in Waitrose the lady standing next to me said, ‘All my friends and I say that women our age and our hair colour become invisible, but thank you because you’re going to make headlines for us.’
“If I can get older people dancing that would be great. We know that dance is the best exercise as you get older for mind and for body.
Strength, core, flexibility, everything — using your brain all the time. I think getting that message across is important.”
Despite being the oldest contestant Angela says: “In my mind I’m still 30.
“But I do know doing this, because I’ve been around dancers for a long time, that my brain and my head know what to do, but my body keeps saying, ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’
“Touch wood, I haven’t had a single twinge.”