Strictly Come Dancing star Angela Rippon made history this weekend as the oldest ever contestant to perform on the BBC ballroom show.
The broadcaster, 78, who hosted the original version of the programme, has been partnered with professional dancer Kai Widdingtron.
Angela and Kai performed the Cha Cha Cha to Shirley Bassey’s version of the Pink! song, Get the Party Started and received 28 points out of 40.
During the routine, Angela shocked the judges and viewers when she showcased her incredible flexibility and stretched her leg over head head.
Angela is best known for her successful career in journalism, however she tends to keep her personal life out of the spotlight.
What a star! Strictly Come Dancing star Angela Rippon made history this weekend as the oldest ever contestant to perform on the BBC ballroom show
Pro partners! The broadcaster, 78, who hosted the original version of the programme, has been partnered with professional dancer Kai Widdingtron
Where does Angela live?
The TV presenter has a property in London but is believed to split her time between the capital and Devon, where she was born and raised.
Angela previously said that she always spends the festive period in the coastal location with her family. While her main residence is in Kensington, west London.
Speaking to The Times in 2017: ‘I inherited the family home just outside Tavistock on the edge of Dartmoor when my mother died. The extended family, including my godson and his wife, always join me there for Christmas.’
As well as owning homes in these two locations, Angela is also the owner of a one-bedroom apartment in Juan-les-Pins in the South of France, which she said its the perfect place for ‘entertaining and getting away from it all’.
Angela’s close friends Gloria Hunniford and Elaine Paige also have second homes in the area.
Is Angela married?
Angela was married age 22 in 1967 to her childhood sweetheart Christopher Dare and they lived together in a 17th-century cottage in Devon.
The couple first met at a YMCA when she was just 17 and were together for 20 years before their divorce 1989.
After they called it a day, Angela did not speak publicly about their split for more than a year, by which time Christopher was living with his now-wife, Judy.
Relationships: Angela was married age 22 in 1967 to her childhood sweetheart Christopher Dare and they lived together in a 17th-century cottage in Devon
Marriage: The couple first met at a YMCA when she was just 17 and were together for 20 years before their divorce 1989
Angela has since opened up about the ‘painful’ breakdown of their marriage, during an interview with Modern&Mature.
She said: ‘It was a stress, of course it was,’ she said. ‘It was a very stressful period for all sorts of reasons. My immediate feeling was, ‘Oh God, I’ve failed at this.’ But in fact, he and I are still good friends.’
The media personality’s relationship with Christopher is now in a much better place and revealed how they talk on the phone a couple of times a month.
She is also on friendly terms with his new partner, saying: ‘He lives in Spain now with his partner, with Judy. We exchange cards at birthdays and Christmas,’ she said.
‘Judy kind of updates me on what they’re doing with their home down in Spain. It’s a good relationship for all of us.’
Is Angela in a relationship now?
Angela has previously spoken about how she has enjoyed ‘private’ long-term relationships away from the spotlight since the end of her marriage.
Speaking to Prima in March of this year, Angela said: ‘I was married for 25 years and when we were parting, Christopher told me, “I got fed up of people coming to our house all the time”.
‘It made me realise that when you do a job that’s public-facing, you have to respect the privacy of your partner. Hardly anybody – beyond my very close circle of friends – would know who my partners have been over the past several years.’
Career: The TV presenter has a property in London but is believed to split her time between the capital and Devon, where she was born and raised
Come Dancing! Angela presented the original version of the show
Despite having loving relationships, Angela admitted she doesn’t plan to walk down the aisle again in a bid to avoid more emotional turmoil.
Speaking with the Mail Online back in 2015, Angela reflected: ‘I’ve discovered I’m very happy being single. I suppose, if I’m honest, when your heart is broken it’s painful and I don’t want to go there.’
Does Angela have children?
Angela has never had children however she has revealed she has a close relationship with her godson and two ‘honorary goddaughters’.
Her godchildren are the son and daughters of two of her closest friends.
She said: ‘I’ve had young people around me. I was there when they were babies and I’ve seen them grow up so I feel as if I’ve got a kind of surrogate family.’
