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?!"
Denne historien er fra September 16, 2023-utgaven av The Herald.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 16, 2023-utgaven av The Herald.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
High-scoring arcade is taken to the next level
‘ARCADE SU A HIT THAT IT HAS EXPANDED
NATIONAL SERVICE
GYABI HELPS ENGLAND U2I1S TO A DRAW IN NETHERLANDS
Figueiredo clings onto dreams of a return for Daley
THE woman who coached Tom Daley to Olympic gold says she is daring to dream about the retired diver making a comeback at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Cherry Tree see a faultless start ended by Legends
AFTER 16 consecutive successes to their start to life in the Plymouth City Super League Division B, Cherry Tree D finally ended on the wrong side of a defeat as Legends Lounge were 7-4 winners.
Farmers out in force at protest against new tax
THE Government has been accused of dealing a \"hammer blow\" to farmers as 13,000 people protested in Whitehall over the Budget's impact on farming.
Migrant jailed over rape of 15-year-old
A MIGRANT who was granted asylum in the UK after several attempts to deport him has been jailed for more than 10 years over the rape of a 15-yearold girl.
US long-range missiles fired at Russia - Moscow
UKRAINE fired six American-supplied longer-range missiles at Russia's Bryansk region, Moscow said yesterday, in what would be Kyiv's first use of the weapons inside Russia in 1,000 days of war.
MPs speak out on water rebate call
GOVERNMENT DECISION ON £50 REBATE SPARKS VIEWS
City's new wine store stocks up for Christmas
DAILY WINE TASTINGS, WITH TASTING NOTES AND EXPERT ADVICE
Six greyhounds looking for their forever homes
SOME HAVE WAITED FOR TWO YEARS
