Angela Rippon, the legendary TV personality, is the second celebrity to join this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up.
The 78-year-old host debuted on today’s broadcast of The One Show alongside actress Amanda Abbington, who was announced as the first contender.
Angela originally presented Come Dancing, the show that inspired the BBC series we know and love today.
‘Having been a fan of Strictly since day one, and as a former presenter of Come Dancing, this will be quite an adventure for me,’ she said.
‘A scary one, considering I’m about to be 79. But I’m really looking forward to the challenge, and perhaps being able to learn to dance the Argentinian Tango!!’
Stuart Broad, Brenda Williams, and Les Dennis are said to be joining them on the dancefloor.
In 2022, celebrity cameraman-turned-dancer Hamza Yassin and his professional partner Jowita Przystal won the long-running ballroom tournament.
From the original Come Dancing to #Strictly Come Dancing, broadcasting icon Angela Rippon joins our line-up! 💃
👉 https://t.co/8NfG4Rwvm7 pic.twitter.com/iNSvnTvCcm
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) August 4, 2023
Angela’s career spans more than 50 years, and she has presented a wide range of programming for broadcasters all around the world, from hard news and current affairs to quiz programmes and magazine shows.
She currently hosts BBC’s Rip-Off Britain and is a regular on Morning Live and The One Show. She hosted the original Come Dancing from 1988 to 1991 and has hosted a variety of shows including Top Gear, Antiques Roadshow, The Holiday Programme, Crufts, How to Stay Young, and The Truth About Dementia, to name a few.
Angela was received an OBE in 2004 for her contributions to broadcasting, charity, and the arts, and she was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2017 for her services to dementia care.
