ANGELA Rippon has said it will be "brilliant" if her time on Strictly Come Dancing helps prove that it is still possible to do something that keeps you "fit and strong and agile" in your 70s.
The Plymouth-born broadcaster will turn 79 in October when the programme is filmed, making her the show's oldest contestant, after Johnny Ball took part in 2012 aged 74.
She is among 15 contestants, including 69-year-old comedian Les Dennis, who are set to take to the dance floor when the hit BBC show returns to screens today with a launch event.
Speaking about why she has agreed to the show ahead of its launch, Rippon said: "When my agent rang me and said: 'Angela, they want you to do Strictly?' the first thing out of my mouth was: 'Why didn't they ask me 10 years ago?!' I shall be 79 years old in October and it's bonkers, really, that I'm doing this.
"I took a long time to decide if I wanted to do it. My brain says fun, my body says: 'What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
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