Southern Belle

One of the best-known faces and voices in British broadcasting, Angela Rippon talks to Angela Sara West about her French Riviera hideaway

- Angela Rippon

Having shocked the nation in the 70s by donning her dancing shoes and displaying her high-kicking skills on The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show, this award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author went on to host the original Come Dancing. She has since enjoyed an illustrious and varied TV and radio career both in Britain and across the Pond.

She has also travelled all over France for shows such as Sun, Sea and Bargain Spotting, but there’s a particular place she always heads to when her busy schedule allows for time to relax.

There’s one very special spot which holds a place in your heart...

Yes, I’ve had a home in Juan-les Pins for the last 15 years and get there as often as I can – though that’s never enough! I go for my main summer holiday and again at New Year. In between, I go whenever I have a spare few days.

Why did you plump for Juan-les-Pins?

I’ve been going to the south of France for nearly 30 years and when I was looking for something permanent for myself, there was no question that it would be anywhere but the area around Cannes. I have a great many friends who live there and I’m very familiar with the whole area. It’s very much become a second home.

Could you describe your property?

I have a small, one-bedroom apartment in a fairly new complex. We have beautiful gardens, a swimming pool and tennis courts – everything I need when I’m ready to ‘chill out’ from my work. I have a lovely, large patio, which I have filled with pots to take plants in the summer. I installed the automatic watering system myself, to make sure that nothing suffers when I’m not there. It’s a perfect space for entertaining. I love cooking and three years ago I treated myself to a brand new kitchen.

How did you go about finding the property?