The TV presenter and newsreader said she had ‘huge anxieties’ about participating on strictly Come Dancing due to her age.
But, despite her initial reservations, the 79 year old has reached the halfway point of the BBC’s beloved dancing show, without featuring in a dreaded dance-off.
READ MORE: Strictly’s Angela Rippon ‘defensive as emotions shifted’ with Kai, expert claims
Speaking to Saga magazine, she said: “It’s the first time the BBC has asked me to do it and I must admit my reaction was ‘why didn’t you ask me ten years ago, when I was younger?’
“I did take a long time to think about it.
“I didn’t give them an answer immediately, because I am aware of the fact I’m 79.
“I had huge anxieties until the point when I met him because I was really worried about doing something which is in many ways out of my comfort zone.
“Covering the Queen’s funeral for Australian TV didn’t faze me, but Strictly is something quite, quite different.”
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On her 28 year old dance partner, Kai Widdrington, she said: “He is just adorable, I love him.”
Rippon said she had met Kai’s partner and fellow Strictly dancer Nadiya Bychkova and they had ‘all gelled’.
“I said I wanted someone who is strong because I’m going to be hanging on to him rather a lot and someone with a great sense of humour and patience,” she continued.
“Kai has all of those in bucket-loads – I have enormous trust in him.
“He said to me, ‘don’t worry, whatever happens I’ll catch you’.
“Once someone as gorgeous as him says that, you don’t worry about the little things.”
On the possibility of becoming another victim of the ‘Strictly curse’, she added: “I’m old enough to be their grandmother, not their lover.”
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