Strictly's Angela Rippon's Top Gear past and flashed in front of 10m viewers

04 August 2023 , 18:11

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Angela Rippon - who will become the oldest contestant to ever take part on Strictly Come Dancing - is a legend of broadcasting and has long ties with the BBC (Image: Blakeway Productions)

Angela Rippon has a long history with the BBC - which included her getting 'flashed' in front of 10 million viewers in a shocking moment.

The much-loved newsreader turned presenter has signed up to the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing, becoming the oldest contestant to ever take to the dancefloor. She has a long history with the BBC including a very much hidden link to its show Top Gear, as well as having spent time presenting the news on the BBC.

She recalled one time she was 'flashed' at by her colleague, whilst she was live on air to 10million people. Angela previously recalled how she was once presenting the Nine O’clock News, and on air to 10million BBC viewers, when a colleague stepped into the room and pretended to flash her. She said she couldn't believe it was happening.

Angela Rippon was the first female face of the Nine O'Clock News (Press Association)

Angela shared: "Out of the corner of my eye I realised that he was unzipping his flies. And as he was doing that suddenly there was something white in his hand being wriggled around. We went to a film and I looked across and what he had actually done was unzipped his flies and taken out the bottom of his shirt. Obviously I was supposed to think he was wiggling his penis at me."

Angela said at the time she didn't report it but was left feeling angry about the disrespectful situation. "At that time he would have got a slap on the wrist and it would have gone round the newsroom in no time that Rippon can’t take a joke. I was angry because I felt this was so disrespectful. I have never named him and I won’t, but he was one of the BBC’s highly respected reporters. I just said, 'For crying out loud... his name... grow up and just get out," she said.

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Angela Rippon presenting Top Gear in the 70s

Aside from her news background, Angela has also helmed one of the BBC's biggest shows; Top Gear.

She presented the programme back in 1977 when it came from the BBC Midlands area, before it was later transmitted across the UK. During the first episode, which was presented by Angela and her co-star Tom Coyne, Angela famously drove down the M1 in her Ford Capri, where she discussed using mirrors correctly on a motorway and chatted to customers at a service station.

Speaking about her zest for life at the age of 78, she said: "I've met people at 92 who still have the enthusiasm for life of a 30-year-old – and I’ve met 30-year-olds who, frankly, have one foot in the grave! The way I see it, you only have one go at life, so get as much out of it as you can, whatever you do. I’ve travelled around the world for work, but I now want to travel just for me."

Jasmine Allday