Loose Women star brands new Strictly line-up the best yet after crucial change
Loose Women star Kaye Adams has praised this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up for featuring more older celebrities.
At 59, Kaye was last year’s oldest contestant and the first voted off. But this year features TV host Angela Rippon, who will turn 79 before the show starts, making her its oldest ever contender. Comedian and actor Les Dennis, 69, is second in the age stakes.
Kaye said: “I do think it’s a really positive thing and I’m glad that they’ve done it. Representation is a very important issue and I think sometimes people overlook age when they’re thinking about representation and inclusivity.
“I’m not trying to say it’s more important than disability, or people from different backgrounds, but I think it can easily get overlooked, so I’m delighted that they’re including all ages.” The average age of contestants in this year’s Strictly is 42 – the highest since 2017 and close to the show’s record high of 45 back in 2010.
Strictly returns next month (BBC)Kaye, who hosts the How to be 60 podcast, added: “The whole thing about Strictly is that it’s the ultimate family show, so it’s important that it reflects the whole family. So, this year’s line-up is a really good thing.” The contestants this year also include 57-year-old former tennis ace Annabel Croft, C4 news host Krishnan Guru-Murthy, 53, and actors Nigel Harman, 50, and Amanda Abbington, 51.
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Kaye admitted that she would have felt less anxious had she taken part in 2023. “I felt a pressure last year because I was the oldest and I was a bit self-conscious of it,” she said. “Whereas this year with the average age being higher than it’s been for a while, there will be no need for anyone to feel that way. But there’s a whole range of factors that go into how well you do. If you relish it and love the razzamatazz and performance then that’s a huge advantage.
“I can imagine that Angela Rippon will do well because she’s got fabulous dance experience, so I expect that she will be very good. It’s not that age means you are necessarily going to be worst. I was only the worst because I’m a crap dancer!” This year’s youngest contestant, EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier, 20, is the current favourite to lift the coveted Glitterball, according to Ladbrokes, with former Family Fortunes host Les as the 33-1 outsider.
The 2023 line-up also includes former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, 22, Bad Education actor Layton Williams, 28, Paralympic champion Jody Cundy, 44, comic Eddie Kadi, 40 and BBC Asian network host Nikita Kanda, 28. Kaye, who was voted out with her partner, Kai Widdrington, after scoring the lowest marks for her Charleston, said she was looking forward to watching this year’s series.
She said: “It was an immense experience and I’m glad that I had it, but now I’m just back to being a Strictly fan and I’ll be eagerly watching.”
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