Ex-Strictly star's fears for Angela Rippon, 78, as show will 'take its toll'

04 October 2023 , 11:23

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Ex-Strictly star's fears for Angela Rippon, 78, as show will 'take its toll'

As one of the oldest contestants on Strictly Come Dancing Angela Rippon has proved that the old adage "age is nothing but a number" is certainly true.

And after wowing the judges and viewers with her performance of the splits, the 78 year old presenter looks set to waltz her way through to the Strictly Come Dancing final. But according to former professional dancer Brendan Cole, 47, who failed to have his contract renewed in 2018 after a 14 year stint dancing with stars including Natasha Kaplinsky and Lisa Snowdon, Angela is set to face some difficulties in the coming weeks.

Brendan Cole reveals fears for Angela Rippon on Strictly Come Dancing

Speaking to Sky Bingo, Brendan said that as the show progresses towards the final and contestants have to complete two dances on the live shows, the demands may take its toll on Angela. He believes that she can make it into the final weeks but the chances of her holding up the glitterball are slim.

He said: "I think (Angela Rippon) can go all the way to the final but I don't think she can go all the way and win it. The thing with Angela is, I think they were very clever – the music choice – 'You make me feel so young', (Kai Widdrington) looked really dapper. He looks after her, he's a lovely boy. She knows how television works to say all the right things."

He added: "She did a really nice Foxtrot, (it) was a pretty dance. She wasn't hitting a particularly wonderful ballroom position but she's 78 years old. What are we expecting? I think time will play against her in the show because it is very demanding and trying to make two numbers look good is very different to trying to make one number good. Half the time on a number can make a number go from being really nice, to really awful. I've no doubt that she'll probably get to week eight or nine and that'd be great, but then once you step into two numbers, and you've got show dances and whatever, that becomes a tricky thing."

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Brendan Cole was a professional dancer on the BBC show for 14 years

Since the show started Angela has impressed the judges with her skill and grace but ahead of the live shows, the former newsreader admitted that she wished that the BBC had asked her to take part ten years ago. Later this month Angela will be 79 years old and she previously told the Mirror that although her brain tells her to continue to do 'fun' stuff, her body sings a completely different tune.

Brendan also said that Angela will have to perform a mix of high tempo dances along with graceful performances otherwise a lack of diversity will go against her. He continued: "Also, within Strictly, you need diversity and I'm not talking about cultural diversity, I'm talking about diversity within what you're doing. One number can't look the same as the last number, and that number can't look the same as the number before that, you've got to continue improving and developing. "

He then went on to say: "If all of your ballroom numbers look the same, then people will start going, 'okay, I feel like I've seen that before'. (You have to) keep your audience on side, (you have to) keep developing with the show and that would be my only fear with Angela, because I think what she's done so far is beautiful. I've loved it and I'd love to see her win it.”

Lucretia Munro