Strictly's Kai shares Angela Rippon blunder as he lifts lid on life since exit

12 December 2023 , 11:24

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Strictly's Kai shares Angela Rippon blunder as he lifts lid on life since exit

Strictly Come Dancing's Kai Widdrington has opened up about life since being eliminated on the BBC One show with celebrity dance partner Angela Rippon.

Kai, 28, and Angela, 79, were voted off the show last month during the show's iconic Blackpool week. Speaking on Tuesday's Lorraine, professional dancer Kai was joined by co-star and girlfriend Nadiya Bychkova as they discussed their new tour together, Nadiya & Kai Behind The Magic.

However, chat soon got onto Kai's time on the 2023 series with Angela and their emotional exit. Kai said of Angela: "We have a 51-year age gap between us but we feel like we've known each other 50 years and we're like mates. She'll ring me now and again, like yesterday, bless her.

Strictly Come Dancing's Kai Widdrington has opened up about life since being eliminated on the BBC One show with celebrity dance partner Angela Rippon (BBC/Guy Levy)

"She accidentally FaceTimed me yesterday but she didn't realise! You know when people are ringing you and you go: 'Oh no, I didn't mean to FaceTime you!' It was quite funny!" The duo will be reunited once again for the Strictly Come Dancing live tour, which takes place after the show's final, while Kai continues as a pro on the series.

Last month, speaking after her fate was decided in the competition Angela thanked pro partner Kai and defended her past experience. She 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.

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"I have had the time of my life, people keep making reference to the fact that I presented Come Dancing, but that was forty 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.

Kai was joined by co-star and girlfriend Nadiya Bychkova (ITV)

"Everybody talks about the team and all the pros - everyone who has danced – there is a real team spirit in this programme unlike anything I’ve come across anywhere else in any of the many programmes I’ve done. It’s absolutely fabulous. They support us, they encourage us all the time – it’s absolutely wonderful. But the person who really has to get the most credit is this gentleman here [to Kai]."

Angela continued: "He’s [Kai] an old soul on young shoulders. He’s 28 and I’m 79, there’s a 51-year difference in our ages. He has looked after me so brilliantly, he’s a wonderful dancer, a great choreographer, but he’s a terrific teacher… and he has the patience of a saint! All I can say is that you’ve [to Kai] got me here so don’t you dare cry! He and his partner, Nadiya, are in every sense of the word beautiful people and I am so pleased to have you in my life."

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Olivia Wheeler