TV legend Angela Rippon is slipping into some sparkly outfits and her dancing shoes as she gets ready to make her Strictly Come Dancing debut.
The broadcaster, 78, is one of many celebs taking part in the 21st series. She’s joined the likes of Bobby Brazier, Ellie Leach and Les Dennis in a bid to take home the iconic Glitterball trophy.
First shooting to fame back in the ‘70s, Angela has become one of the UK’s most recognisable and much-loved presenters. She’s fronted everything from Top Gear to Rip Off Britain.
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The journalist is also making history this year as she is the oldest celeb to take part in the glitzy BBC One show. But way back in the day, Angela actually fronted the OG Strictly Come Dancing show.
So as Angela gets stuck into the competition, Daily Star is looking inside her history with the nation’s favourite dancing show.
Original host of Come Dancing
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
Way back before Strictly Come Dancing was Strictly Come Dancing, there was a similar BBC show called Come Dancing. The OG of dance shows, the competition series ran on and off from 1949 to 1998. However, unlike Come Dancing’s follow-up show, Strictly, the contestants were not celebrities.
And current Strictly star Angela was even one of the show’s hosts. She fronted the programme from 1988 to 1991, before returning for one last stint in 1998.
“Having been a fan of Strictly since day one, and as a former presenter of Come Dancing, this will be quite an adventure for me,” Angela said in a statement when news of her Strictly stint was confirmed.
Morecambe and Wise 1976 Christmas special
(Image: bbc)
It was back in Christmas time 1976 when Angela first danced on our screens in a stunning, albeit, hilarious moment. The TV star made an appearance on Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise Christmas special show. And it’s fair to say she stole the whole performance.
In the performance, Angela can be seen joining Eric and Ernie for a rather energetic and high-kicking dance routine. She danced her way through the segment – which was a hit with viewers.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
Speaking about the performance and her dancing skills, Angela told Digital Spy: “I was 37 for [Morecambe and Wise]! It was a very long time ago. I presented Come Dancing, I didn’t dance in Come Dancing.
“But I’m very fortunate I’ve been around dancers for a very long time and doing Come Dancing, I was chairman of the English National Ballet for four years — I’ve been around dancers. So I know what’s required and I did go to ballet class until I was about 17.”
Who is Angela partnered with on Strictly?
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
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Angela will be taking to the Strictly dance floor with pro dancer Kai Widdrington. Kai is a favourite with viewers, and previously won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special alongside soap actress Alexandra Mardell in 2022.
Talking about Kai, Angela told the PA news agency: “I just feel so comfortable with him because I have enormous respect, having watched him dance, for being a great dancer and a terrific choreographer and I want to learn from both of those things. The minute he came up through the floor of the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool… my whole body went ‘phew, ugh, thank goodness it’s Kai’.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
