24 November 2023 , 14:19
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A Strictly Come Dancing judge has broken the silence on the Angela Rippon ‘conspiracy’ claims.
The 79-year-old veteran broadcaster, who is the BBC show’s oldest ever contestant, got the boot in Blackpool last weekend along with pro dancer Kai Widdrington. The pair found themselves in the bottom two again against Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell, but it was third time unlucky and they were finally voted out in the dance-off.
Speaking after her elimination, Angela thanked pro partner Kai and said: "I have to tell you that the last nine weeks have probably been the most terrifying, the most fantastic, the most glorious, the most joyful that I have spent for a very long time in my profession.
"I have had the time of my life, people keep making reference to the fact that I presented Come Dancing, but that was 40 years ago, that was a different time! He [Kai] wasn’t even born then! But actually being this side of the competition, this side of the programme has been really an eye-opener for me in so many different ways.”
Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington were voted off Strictly last weekend (BBC)But prior to Blackpool week, the BBC show was hit with ‘fix’ claims as fans suggested Angela was only being kept in the competition so she could relive the full-circle moment as she used to present the original Come Dancing in the Eighties.
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One disgruntled fan took to X, formerly known as , to declare: "Of course Strictly fixed it for Angela to stay in for Blackpool. Angela used to host Come Dancing for years...they're going to do a Come Dancing history special, then she'll be voted out. She tripped in the dance-off FFS."
Another wrote: "Sorry this is such a fix.” And a third agreed: "Sorry but Angela Rippon saved twice over both Adam and Krishnan, really? Despite making mistakes/near falls while Krishnan for one got praised, really? Hate to be one of those people but kinda starting to scream of fix unfortunately!!!"
Strictly judge Anton Du Beke has set the record straight on 'fix claims' (BBC)Now judge Anton Du Beke has hit back at the claims – denying there was a ‘fix’ and revealed why. In an interview with Times Radio’s Jane Garvey, he said: “Are you mad? If she [Angela] was terrible in week one, she’d have been the first to go. It doesn’t really work that way.”
Pressed further, Anton said he did believe Angela deserved to get to Blackpool week. Backing his decision, he explained: “We had the opportunity as judges to eliminate and we chose not to because she was worthy of a place in the dance-off to stay in the competition.
“The suggestion is that we care more about who stays and who goes out than we do, but we don’t care. Makes no difference to us. What does it make to me? The producers don’t speak to me. They don’t come to me and go, ‘Listen, we wouldn’t mind if you kept such and such in.’”
*Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 7.30pm on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer