Why fitness comes first for Strictly's oldest star Angela

SHE MAY be Strictly Come Dancing's oldest contestant when she waltzes on to the dance floor next month, but Angela Rippon could well be one of the fittest.

- Olivia Buxton

The 78-year-old still does the splits, exercises every day and has retained much of the fitness that stunned viewers of the Morecambe And Wise Christmas special with her famous high-kick routine back in 1976.

While Angela has wanted to star on the BBC dance show for years she says she doesn't feel too old for the challenge ahead. In an exclusive interview, she said: "My age certainly won't put me off taking on TV projects, like Strictly.

"I'm going to be around for a while yet!" She was the first female journalist to present the news in 1975. She was a presenter on, and co-founder of, TV-AM and presented Strictly's predecessor Come Dancing, the UK Ballroom Championships and Top Gear.