Strictly: Angela Rippon presents BBC special

Angela Rippon, who is taking part in the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing, has revealed she still takes regular ballet classes in a bid to remain fit and healthy.

“I still do a ballet class as often as I can,” she told the Daily Mail. “I worked on a documentary which found that dance is the best way of staying fit, supple and strong.

“I studied classical ballet until I was 17 and you never forget the basics. Can I still hold the positions? Well, yes.”

She continued: “Put it this way – the mind is willing, the body sometimes says, ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’

The presenter said she used to be able to do impressive high-kicks, but she can “probably do to about waist height now”.

READ MORE Why Strictly pro Brendan Cole backs Angela Rippon, 78, to win[LATEST]

Angela hosted the original talent show Come Dancing, on BBC One, between 1988 and 1991.

Her Strictly Come Dancing appearance will come almost 50 years after she dazzled Morecambe and Wise viewers by emerging from her newsreader desk to perform a high-kicking dance routine.

Before Angela’s Strictly announcement, comedian Johnny Ball was the oldest celebrity to take part in the show. He was 74 when he took part two years ago.

Former Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph was 71 when she participated in 2019.

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Ex-Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole has thrown his support behind Angela ahead of the series launching.

He said: “I think she will find it very hard, but anyone will find it difficult regardless of their age.

“At 20 it’s challenging and at 50 it’s challenging. The physicality of Strictly is massive.”

“Could she go all the way? It depends. If you’ve got the right attitude for it, you will be fine, and I know plenty of people in their 70s with an amazing attitude to life… And that’s awesome.”

Other celebrities who have reportedly signed up for the series, which is due to air this autumn, include ex-Love Island star, Zara McDermott.

She would make history as the show’s first-ever Love Island contestant to take part in the dancing competition.

Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One later this year.

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