23 September 2023 , 18:55
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Veteran broadcaster Angela Rippon, 78, wowed the Strictly Come Dancing judges and viewers on Saturday night as she high-kicked her way through her Cha Cha Cha with Kai Widdrington.
Strictly fans couldn't believe Angela's age and took to Twitter to praise the star for her impressive performance, which earned a score of 28 from the judges. One viewer tweeted: "Angela having legs for days, we respect that #strictly," and another wrote: "Angela Rippon. Oldest contestant ever, that leg raise! What a Queen #Strictly."
"Angela rippon putting woman half her age to shame there! Jaw drop! #strictly," someone else wrote and another added: "I’d like to have legs like Angela Rippon at my age, let alone hers #Strictly." Meanwhile, another fan said: "I'm in my 30s and if i did i high kick like angela I'd need a stretcher to take me off stage #strictly," and another shared: "I'm in my 30s and if i did i high kick like angela I'd need a stretcher to take me off stage #strictly."
Angela performed a Cha Cha Cha on Saturday (BBC)Ahead of tonight's first live show, Angela jokingly teased BBC bosses for not signing her up to Strictly sooner. She said: "When my agent rang me and said‘Angela, they want you to do Strictly’ the first thing out of my mouth was ‘why didn’t they ask me ten years ago?’ I shall be 79 years old in October and it’s bonkers really that I’m doing this.
"I took a long time to decide if I wanted to do it... my brain says fun...my body says ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ When it was announced I was doing it I had so many people online saying ‘Cheers for 70-year-old dancers!’ I was in the grocery store the other day and the lady next in line, who was of a certain age, tapped me on the shoulder and said ‘can I just say that I and my friends are thrilled you’re going to Strictly... sometimes I feel people of a certain age become invisible and you’re going to make a few headlines for us.’
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"So I’m doing this because, if I can last a few weeks and demonstrate that it is possible in your 70s..that you can do something that keeps you fit and strong and agile, that will be brilliant. This is a very public way to put my money where my mouth is, but it will be a challenge!"