Angela Rippon says everyone stops her in street to say same thing after Strictly

05 December 2023 , 21:44

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Angela wows audience by doing the splits (Image: PA)

Strictly’s Angela Rippon says older people approach her on the bus to tell her how she’s inspired them to take up dancing – just as she’d hoped.

Sadly, most say they can’t touch their ear with their toes – yet. The Rip Off Britain star got straight back to business after being eliminated from the series, but praised the “wonderful time” she had with fab Kai Widdrington.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Angela, 79, at the Television and Radio Industries Club Christmas lunch at the Londoner hotel. “The number of people that stopped me in the street, on the bus, just saying, ‘You were such an inspiration’. That was what I wanted to achieve.”

Angela looks stylish at a Christmas lunch (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Alas, most can’t quite pull off Angela’s signature move. “They keep telling me they can’t do it,” she says, before adding: “Yet.” Angela, who joins the Strictly tour next month, won an Outstanding Achievement Award. She told how then BBC Director-General John Birt had told her at 50 that she should pass the baton to younger women. “I say to John Birt, I’m not finished yet,” she said. The Strictly Come Dancing semi final airs on Saturday on BBC1.

Ashleigh Rainbird