Angela Rippon remains one of the most remarkable figures in British broadcasting, continuously demonstrating that age is merely a number. At 80 years old, this legendary television presenter, journalist, and author continues to capture public attention through her groundbreaking career spanning over five decades and her passionate advocacy for the transformative power of dance.
A Trailblazing Career: Breaking Barriers in British Broadcasting
Angela Rippon’s journey in television began in the early 1970s when opportunities for women in broadcasting were severely limited. Born on October 12, 1944, in Redruth, Cornwall, Rippon would go on to reshape the landscape of British journalism. Her career took a decisive turn when she became the first female journalist to secure a permanent role presenting the BBC’s prestigious Nine O’Clock News in 1975. This achievement could not have been more significant at a time when female news presenters remained exceptionally rare in British broadcasting.
During her time as a regular newsreader from 1975 to 1981, Rippon achieved another remarkable milestone. She secured the first-ever interview with Margaret Thatcher following Thatcher’s appointment as leader of the Conservative Party. This exclusive interview demonstrated Rippon’s journalistic prowess and established her reputation as a serious broadcaster capable of accessing major political figures. Her dedication to her craft earned her prestigious recognition, including the Newsreader of the Year award during her tenure.
What makes Rippon’s career particularly fascinating is how she seamlessly transitioned between different broadcasting roles. Beyond news presentation, she hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1977, co-presented the beloved car show Top Gear that same year, and presented Antiques Roadshow. Her versatility proved that capable women could command any broadcasting platform, from serious news coverage to entertainment programming.
Dance, Entertainment, and the Morecambe and Wise Legacy
Rippon’s connection with dance began long before her starring moment on Strictly Come Dancing. Her childhood shaped her remarkable physical abilities. At just four years old, her mother faced a choice between purchasing corrective shoes for Rippon’s knock knees or enrolling her in dance lessons. The decision to pursue dance proved transformative. By age seventeen, not only had her legs straightened, but she had also discovered a lifelong passion for movement and physical expression.
This foundation led to one of British television’s most iconic moments. In 1976, Rippon made a memorable appearance on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special. Viewers were absolutely astonished when she emerged from behind a BBC newsdesk to perform a high-kicking dance routine. The sequence became instantly legendary, generating such enthusiasm that she returned for a cameo appearance the following year as part of a chorus line. This moment, now permanently embedded in British television history, showcased Rippon’s willingness to embrace entertainment and demonstrated her exceptional flexibility and dance training.
Following this success, Rippon became the natural choice to present Come Dancing from 1988 onwards. This pioneering programme introduced millions of British viewers to ballroom and Latin dancing. For over a decade, she hosted the show that would eventually inspire the BBC’s most successful entertainment format, Strictly Come Dancing. When Rippon appeared as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023, over thirty years after hosting Come Dancing, the moment represented a poignant full circle in her broadcasting journey.
Making History on Strictly Come Dancing
At 79 years old, Rippon became Strictly Come Dancing’s oldest-ever contestant when she joined the twenty-first series in September 2023. Her participation captured the nation’s imagination, not merely because of her age, but because of her undeniable talent and fearlessness. Partnered with professional dancer Kai Widdrington, Rippon proved week after week that age presents no barrier to achievement or entertainment value.
Throughout the competition, Rippon delivered numerous memorable performances. Her paso doble to Madonna’s “Hung Up” earned her 32 points and a fifth-place position on the leaderboard. Her tango to “Tangier” by Sexteto Mayor achieved her highest score of 34 points. However, the moment that truly captured public imagination came during a performance where Rippon executed spectacular high kicks reminiscent of her legendary 1976 Morecambe and Wise appearance. At nearly 80 years old, performing splits and high kicks with precision demonstrated physical capability that few people of any age could replicate.
Rippon navigated through multiple dance-offs, including encounters with Nadia Sawalha and Mark Hanretty. Though she ultimately did not win the competition, her journey resonated deeply with viewers who found her determination, grace, and infectious enthusiasm genuinely inspiring. The experience proved catalytic for her subsequent work promoting dance as a health intervention.
Championing Dance as Medicine: The Let’s Dance! Campaign
Following her triumphant Strictly experience, Rippon channelled her passion for dance into a national mission. In 2025, she launched Let’s Dance!, an ambitious nationwide campaign designed to inspire people of all ages and abilities to embrace dancing. The campaign reached its first national milestone on March 2, 2025, when over 55,000 dance teachers across the country participated in simultaneous events celebrating the transformative potential of dance.
The Let’s Dance! initiative draws upon substantial scientific evidence demonstrating dance’s profound benefits for physical and mental wellbeing. Rippon consistently emphasises that dance uniquely exercises every part of the human body whilst simultaneously stimulating cognitive function. Dancing requires participants to remember sequences, coordinate complex movements, and engage with others—creating a holistic health intervention particularly valuable for older adults.
Government officials have publicly endorsed Rippon’s campaign. Wes Streeting, the Health and Social Care Secretary, stated that Rippon was “dancing up a storm” to support the government’s mission to rebuild the NHS and shift care from sickness prevention. Official backing from the Department for Health, NHS England, and numerous health charities has given the campaign significant momentum and credibility.
On March 2, 2025, Rippon and her former Strictly partner Kai Widdrington jointly launched a special dance session at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The high-energy Afrobeats versus Carnival Vibes workout, led by community leader Khadidja N’diaye, brought together outpatients, hospital staff, volunteers, and local community members. This symbolic moment demonstrated how dance could meaningfully contribute to public health initiatives and community wellbeing.
Maintaining Peak Physical Condition at 80
Rippon’s personal commitment to physical fitness serves as a living testament to dance’s transformative power. She maintains a rigorous daily exercise routine, completing minimum ten-minute stretching sessions even when travelling for work. She regularly participates in dancing and tennis sessions, activities that collectively keep her physically strong and mentally engaged.
In recent interviews, Rippon has revealed the personal discipline underpinning her remarkable physical capabilities. She has joked about the surprise people express when viewing a recent Smart Meters advertisement featuring her leg positioned on a table. Viewers frequently question whether the footage represents artificial intelligence or augmented reality. Rippon enjoys clarifying that the footage is genuine and that she genuinely can still perform splits and high kicks, albeit with slightly less perfection than during her younger years.
Her approach to ageing reflects a philosophy she articulates as “dying young—as late as possible.” She emphasises that this phrase, whilst not originally hers, captures perfectly the philosophy underpinning her life choices. At eighty-one years old, Rippon maintains capabilities that most people considerably younger cannot achieve, demonstrating that intentional choices regarding physical activity and engagement directly impact quality of life in later years.
Rippon’s health advocacy extends beyond personal practice. She has become a prominent ambassador for Age UK’s Act Now, Age Better campaign, which encourages people to make small, proactive changes that enhance physical health and quality of life during later years. She demonstrates through her own lived experience that growing older does not necessitate declining capability or diminished engagement with life.
Recent Achievements and Current Projects
Beyond the Let’s Dance! campaign, Rippon continues maintaining an remarkably active professional schedule. In 2025, she made her television acting debut in Father Brown, BBC’s long-running detective drama series. In the sixth episode of series twelve, titled “The Lord of the Dance,” Rippon played the Dancing Duchess, the host of a television dancing contest. The casting proved particularly apt given Rippon’s extensive history with dance programming. Her acting debut, coming at age 79, demonstrates her continued willingness to embrace new challenges and opportunities.
Looking ahead to December 2025, Rippon will perform at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford as part of Macmillan Cancer Support’s annual “Follow the Stars” carol service. This prestigious annual event, now in its 29th year since its 1996 inception, has collectively raised over £913,000 for cancer support services. Rippon will perform alongside other renowned figures including Juliet Stevenson, Abigail Thaw, and Mel Giedroyc. One hundred percent of proceeds from the event directly support Macmillan’s mission to improve outcomes and survival rates for people living with cancer.
Additionally, Rippon recently honoured animals who served in military conflict at the Animals in War Memorial service in London ahead of Remembrance Sunday in November 2025. Speaking on behalf of Brooke, the international animal charity, Rippon paid moving tribute to the millions of horses, donkeys, and mules who lost their lives during wartime. During the First World War alone, an estimated eight million working animals perished from shellfire, gas attacks, exhaustion, and disease. Rippon personally committed to leaving a legacy gift to Brooke in her will, demonstrating her long-term commitment to animal welfare and remembrance.
A Lifetime of Broadcasting Excellence and Honours
Rippon’s exceptional contributions to broadcasting and public life have received formal recognition. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2004, recognising her distinguished broadcasting career. Subsequently, she received appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2017 specifically for her services to dementia care through her role as development lead with Dementia Friendly Communities. Plymouth University awarded her an honorary doctorate of arts in 2012, acknowledging her broader contributions to culture and society.
Throughout her career, Rippon has authored fourteen books, combining her expertise in broadcasting, health, and wellbeing. She toured with the musical production “Anything Goes,” demonstrating her theatrical capabilities. She has presented segments on BBC One’s popular magazine show The One Show and provided voiceover narration for the BBC game show The Wall. Her career represents a masterclass in adaptability, sustained excellence, and genuine passion for engaging audiences across multiple formats and generations.
The Enduring Impact of a Television Legend
What distinguishes Angela Rippon from her contemporaries is not merely her longevity in broadcasting or her physical capabilities. Rather, it is her authentic commitment to using her platform for public benefit. She has consistently advocated for causes she believes in, from dementia care to animal welfare, from promoting dance as medicine to celebrating the potential of ageing well.
Rippon’s career trajectory demonstrates that exceptional female broadcasters overcame significant institutional barriers to establish themselves during the 1970s and 1980s. Her success opened pathways for subsequent generations of women journalists and presenters. Her willingness to embrace new challenges—from competing on Strictly Come Dancing to launching a national dance campaign to making her acting debut—illustrates that professional growth need not plateau.
Perhaps most importantly, Rippon serves as a powerful counter-narrative to ageist cultural assumptions. She demonstrates through lived example that people in their eighth decade can possess physical capability, creative vitality, and professional ambition. Her dancing, her ongoing broadcasting work, and her public advocacy all challenge limiting assumptions about what older people can achieve.
As British audiences continue following Rippon’s career into her ninth decade, she remains a figure of genuine inspiration and admiration. Her journey from pioneering female newsreader to dance champion to cultural advocate represents one of British broadcasting’s most remarkable legacies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why is Angela Rippon so famous in the UK?
Angela Rippon achieved fame through multiple pathways. She became the first female journalist to secure a permanent position presenting BBC’s Nine O’Clock News in 1975, breaking significant gender barriers in broadcasting. She later became well known for hosting Come Dancing, the predecessor to Strictly Come Dancing. Her iconic 1976 appearance on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special, featuring spectacular high kicks, remains legendary in British television history. More recently, at age 79, she became the oldest-ever contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023, captivating audiences with her dancing talent and inspiring approach.
Q2: What is the Let’s Dance! campaign and when did it launch?
Let’s Dance! is a nationwide campaign launched by Angela Rippon to encourage people of all ages and abilities to embrace dancing for improved physical and mental health. The campaign reached its first national milestone on March 2, 2025, when over 55,000 dance teachers participated in simultaneous events across the country. The campaign has received government backing, with Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting publicly endorsing its objectives to support NHS priorities and promote preventative health measures.
Q3: How does Angela Rippon maintain such remarkable physical fitness at 80?
Rippon maintains a dedicated daily exercise routine including minimum ten-minute stretching sessions even whilst travelling. She regularly participates in dancing and tennis. She emphasises the importance of staying physically active throughout life, having had dance training since childhood. She has described her philosophy as “dying young—as late as possible,” meaning living life fully whilst maintaining health and capability. She regularly features in advertisements demonstrating her flexibility, including recent Smart Meters advertisements where she performs leg lifts.
Q4: What recent television and charitable work has Angela Rippon undertaken?
In 2025, Rippon made her television acting debut in Father Brown’s series twelve, playing the Dancing Duchess in an episode titled “The Lord of the Dance.” She is scheduled to perform at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford as part of Macmillan Cancer Support’s “Follow the Stars” carol service in December 2025. She has also recently spoken at the Animals in War Memorial service, honouring working animals who served in military conflicts. Additionally, she serves as ambassador for Age UK’s Act Now, Age Better campaign, promoting healthy ageing practices.
Q5: How did Angela Rippon’s childhood shape her broadcasting career?
At age four, Rippon’s mother chose dance lessons over corrective shoes to address knock knees, which proved transformative. By age seventeen, her legs had straightened and she possessed exceptional dance training. This early exposure to dance fundamentally shaped her career, enabling her iconic 1976 television moment and her subsequent hosting of Come Dancing. Her childhood investment in physical activity and movement contributed significantly to the capabilities she maintains into her ninth decade, informing her current health advocacy work.
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