Strictly Come Dancing's Angela Rippon supported as she takes 'needed break'
Strictly Come Dancing’s oldest ever contestant has revealed she has “taken a break” from gruelling training sessions on the BBC show.
At 78, TV legend Angela Rippon has already admitted to feeling “frustrated” in rehearsals as the routines take their toll on her legs. In an exclusive chat with the Mirror the former newsreader said she felt like she was “about to collapse”.
So the star – who surprised the nation when she showed off her high kicks in a Morecambe and Wise sketch in 1976 – decided to take a much-needed time out with her pro dance partner Kai Widdrington.
But far from resting up, glamorous Angela took Kai to The Ritz for a spot of afternoon tea. Taking to Instagram to share a clip of themselves in the iconic London hotel, Kai told fans as he stood next to Angela: “We’ve taken a break from training. And we’ve gone somewhere very low key haven’t we.”
Teasing fans as to where it could be before the ‘big reveal’, Angela said: “Well, first of all, are you ready to eat little finger sized, tiny, tiny, tiny, cucumber sandwiches and some absolutely gorgeous cakes?”
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Kai replied: “Yes I am, I’m ready for that, where are we Angela?” Panning the camera round to show they were in the Palm Court where afternoon tea is served, Angela said: “We’re at The Ritz having tea, and it’s your first time isn’t it?”
TV legend Angela Rippon, with partner Kai Widdrington, is Strictly's oldest ever contestant (BBC/Ray Burmiston)
In a break from training, Angela took Kai to The Ritz (Instagram)“Yes, it’s my first time. We’re all suited and booted, look – we’ve earned it this week in training haven’t we?” Kai said, as Angela replied: “Yes, this is our reward to ourselves.” Kai then said they “definitely won’t be drinking a glass of champagne”, much to the disappointment of Angela who said: “Won’t we?” before the pair said bye to fans.
Angela is set to perform a Cha Cha Cha to Shirley Bassey’s rendition of Pink’s song Get The Party Started on Saturday. And fans are already here for it with one writing: “So excited to see you both dance!”
“Will be rooting for you,” another said, as a third commented: “The coolest pair. Can’t wait to see you strut your stuff on that dance floor.” “The loveliest partnership,” a fourth fan added.
Angela – who turns 79 next month – has revealed partner Kai is “so patient” with her as she gets to grips with the routine. But in another Instagram video, she revealed they had now run out of rehearsal time so she would be practising alone in her dining room at home until she hits the Strictly dancefloor for the first time on Saturday night.
She shared: “I’ve just finished my first ever session of rehearsals on the dancefloor on the set of Strictly Come Dancing. We all get three goes at it on the set. I have to say the first one was a bit of a disaster, the other two were okay.
“But Kai and I don’t have any more rehearsal time together, so I feel that once I get home I’m going to be wearing a groove on the dining room floor as I go over the routine on my own again and again and again.”
Angela said she was facing it now with a “mixture of real excitement” and “first night terrors” and added: “The live programme will be what it will be. I just hope I can get through it and enjoy it – and I hope that you will too.”
*The new series of Strictly Come Dancing starts on Saturday September 23 at 6.16pm on BBC1 or catch up on BBC iPlayer
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