I've Wanted To Do Strictly For Years!

Angela Rippon talks to My Weekly about how happy she is to finally be taking part in her and the nation's - favourite dance show...

- ALISON JAMES

She's always been a bit of a hoofer, has broadcaster and journalist Angela Rippon. Who can forget those legendary high kicks when she appeared on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas show of 1976, or her Hey Big Spender routine for Let's Dance For Comic Relief in 2009?

So, it's something of a dream come true for her to be strutting her stuff on this year's Strictly Come Dancing. To be honest, we don't understand why she hasn't signed up before.

"Because I wasn't asked!" she laughs, sparkling away in a silver sequined bomber jacket. "When the Strictly producers called me, the first words out of my mouth were, 'Why didn't you ask 10 years ago?""

So why does she think they didn't?

"I assumed it was because I was too closely associated with the original Come Dancing show which I presented from 1988 to 1991," she replies. "Not that I ever actually danced on it - I introduced the couples who did. I've been a huge fan of Strictly since day one and have wanted to do it for years. It is, without doubt, an adventure - and quite a scary one considering I'm about to be 79 - but I like a challenge."

Her Rip Off Britain co-presenter Gloria Hunniford is a 2005 Strictly alumnus. We imagine they've been comparing notes.