Angela Rippon stands as one of British television’s most enduring and celebrated figures. At 80 years old, this broadcasting icon shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to captivate audiences across multiple platforms and championing causes that matter to her. Her journey from being a pioneering female newsreader to becoming a fitness and wellness advocate represents a remarkable career spanning over five decades of continuous reinvention.
Breaking Barriers as a News Pioneer
Rippon’s career trajectory was nothing short of revolutionary for her time. Born on 12 October 1944 in Plymouth, Devon, she broke significant ground when she became the first female journalist to secure a permanent role presenting BBC national television news in 1975. This achievement cannot be overstated in terms of its cultural significance during an era when female presence on mainstream media remained exceptionally rare and often contested.
Her earliest days in broadcasting saw her work across radio and television news programmes throughout South West England before making the leap to BBC One’s Nine O’Clock News. The professional recognition came swiftly, as she earned the prestigious Newsreader of the Year award, cementing her reputation as a serious and talented journalist. More impressively, she became the first person to secure an exclusive interview with Margaret Thatcher following Thatcher’s ascension to the leadership of the Conservative Party, demonstrating her journalistic prowess and access to Britain’s most powerful figures.
Television’s Entertainment Renaissance
Beyond her groundbreaking journalism work, Rippon proved herself a versatile television performer throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1977 and presented the pioneering motoring programme Top Gear during its early years. Her appearance on the 1976 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special became legendary, showcasing her dance abilities in a way that surprised audiences and introduced them to a more playful side of the accomplished newsreader.
The presenter’s association with dance programming runs deeper than many realise. In the late 1980s, she hosted Come Dancing, the direct predecessor to the modern Strictly Come Dancing phenomenon. This early involvement with dance-focused entertainment proved prescient, setting the stage for her later career developments that would make her synonymous with the benefits of movement and dancing for people of all ages.
The Rip Off Britain Era and Consumer Advocacy
For fifteen years, from 2009 until recently, Rippon became the face of BBC One’s consumer protection programme Rip Off Britain, working alongside Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville. The show became hugely successful, generating two spin-off series focused on holidays and food respectively. Through these programmes, Rippon investigated consumer complaints, helped viewers pursue compensation, and exposed corporate wrongdoing across Britain. Her journalism credentials proved invaluable in this role, bringing accountability and investigative rigour to everyday consumer issues affecting ordinary households.
However, in December 2024, it was announced that Rippon would step back from the programme. This decision came after she entered into a partnership with Smart Energy GB alongside Ross Kemp to promote smart meter installation. The BBC identified a potential conflict of interest, as Rip Off Britain regularly held energy companies to account regarding smart meter rollout procedures. Rather than compromise the show’s editorial independence, Rippon agreed to a 12-month absence from BBC productions, allowing the organisation to maintain its integrity as a consumer watchdog.
Strictly Come Dancing and a Full Circle Moment
The most recent chapter of Rippon’s career received enormous public attention when she appeared as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023 at the age of 79. Her performance, particularly an astonishing high kick during a routine with professional dancer Kai Widdrington, captivated audiences and trending across social media platforms. The appearance represented a full circle moment for someone who had hosted Come Dancing decades earlier, and it fundamentally shifted public perception about what people in their eighth decade could achieve.
Her success on Strictly reignited public interest in Rippon and demonstrated something powerful: age need not diminish capability, talent, or relevance. Audiences saw an accomplished professional who continued to push physical boundaries and challenge stereotypes about ageing in the modern media landscape.
The Let’s Dance Campaign and Health Advocacy
Following her experience on Strictly, Rippon became genuinely convinced about dance’s transformative potential. She experienced firsthand the physical, mental, and social benefits that regular dancing provided, and this conviction led her to champion the Let’s Dance! campaign throughout 2025. Launched as a nationwide movement on 2 March 2025, the initiative aimed to get the nation dancing through organized events, classes, and participation opportunities hosted by dance organisations, charities, health professionals, and community groups.
The campaign represented Rippon’s attempt to democratize dance access and highlight its documented benefits for overall wellbeing. Unlike many celebrity-backed initiatives that remain largely symbolic, Rippon has consistently demonstrated genuine commitment to this cause through her advocacy and public engagement. The campaign united the Sport and Recreation Alliance, numerous dance organisations, and various health-focused entities around a shared objective of increasing nationwide participation in dance.
Health, Fitness, and Longevity Secrets
In interviews discussing her health approach, Rippon revealed a disciplined yet sustainable approach to maintaining fitness in her ninth decade. She completes a minimum of ten minutes of exercise daily when travelling, extending to fifteen to twenty minutes whilst at home, complemented by regular walking sessions depending on her work schedule. Dancing and tennis remain integral components of her fitness regime, activities she approaches not as onerous obligations but as genuinely enjoyable pursuits.
Her nutritional choices reflect careful consideration, encompassing wholesome options including chicken, fish, and vegetables whilst generally avoiding processed foods. Rippon has also become increasingly vocal about brain health maintenance, having witnessed her late mother’s experience with dementia. She emphasises the importance of dancing, proper nutrition, engaging with music, and maintaining cognitive activity through puzzles and mental stimulation as part of comprehensive healthy ageing.
These aren’t prescriptive recommendations from an external expert but rather philosophy born from lived experience. When discussing her fitness philosophy, Rippon referenced the exercise instructor Eileen Fowler’s statement that “you’ve got to keep the machine working,” a philosophy she clearly endorses in her own life. More pointedly, she expresses an ambition to “die young as late as possible,” a sentiment that captures her approach to ageing with vitality rather than resigned decline.
Supporting Charitable Causes
Beyond her television and advocacy work, Rippon has championed charitable initiatives aligned with her values. In December 2025, she is set to perform at Christ Church Cathedral as part of Macmillan Cancer Support’s annual Follow the Stars carol service. This event, reaching its 29th edition in 2025, aims to raise £80,000 to support cancer research and patient support services. Rippon performs alongside other accomplished artists including Juliet Stevenson, Abigail Thaw, and Mel Giedroyc, contributing her platform and talents to fundraising efforts for this crucial charity.
Her involvement with health-related causes extends to hospital advocacy work. She visited Chelsea and Westminster Hospital to learn about the CW+ Arts for All programme, which explores how dance and music positively impact hospital community wellbeing. This involvement demonstrates her willingness to engage with institutions working to integrate arts and movement into healthcare environments, supporting innovative approaches to patient and staff wellbeing.
Current Work and Future Plans
Despite taking temporary leave from Rip Off Britain, Rippon maintains an active professional schedule. She continues to make occasional appearances on GB News, bringing her journalistic perspective to current affairs programming. Her calendar remains full, and she has expressed ambitions to continue working for at least another year to reach a significant professional milestone: celebrating 60 years on screen in September 2026.
Recent reports in November 2025 indicate new television projects on the horizon. She is set to front a new ITV game show titled Amazing Greys, co-hosted with Paddy McGuinness, which celebrates talented older people competing against younger contestants. Producing £10,000 prizes for winning contestants, the show represents an explicit stand against television ageism and celebrates the talents older people develop across lifetimes of practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Angela Rippon
What was Angela Rippon’s most significant career achievement?
Rippon’s most significant achievement was becoming the first woman to secure a permanent role presenting BBC national television news in 1975. She was also the first person to secure an exclusive interview with Margaret Thatcher after Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party, demonstrating her exceptional journalistic talent and access to Britain’s most influential figures.
How did Angela Rippon maintain her fitness at age 80?
Rippon maintains fitness through daily exercise routines, including ten to twenty minutes of exercise depending on her location, regular dancing sessions, and weekly walks. She combines this with nutritious eating habits emphasising whole foods like fish, chicken, and vegetables whilst avoiding processed options. She also prioritises brain health through activities like puzzles, music engagement, and social interaction.
Why did Angela Rippon leave Rip Off Britain?
Rippon took a 12-month absence from Rip Off Britain due to a conflict of interest arising from her partnership with Smart Energy GB promoting smart meter installation. Since the BBC programme regularly investigates energy company practices, maintaining editorial independence required her temporary departure. Louise Minchin replaced her from series 17 onwards.
What is the Let’s Dance campaign?
Let’s Dance! is a nationwide campaign launched on 2 March 2025, spearheaded by Angela Rippon to encourage more people to dance. The initiative brought together dance organisations, charities, health professionals, and community groups to host classes and opportunities for people to participate in dancing, highlighting the physical, mental, and social benefits of regular dance participation.
What happened when Angela Rippon appeared on Strictly Come Dancing?
Rippon appeared as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023 at age 79, becoming the show’s oldest-ever participant. Her performance impressed audiences and generated widespread social media engagement. Particularly memorable was her high kick during a routine with professional dancer Kai Widdrington, which challenged public perceptions about physical capability in older age and demonstrated her genuine commitment to challenging ageism in television.
Looking Forward
Angela Rippon’s career trajectory demonstrates that television and public service need not follow conventional paths dictated by age. Her willingness to evolve, challenge stereotypes, and remain engaged with contemporary issues affecting British audiences has ensured her continued relevance. Whether investigating consumer fraud, promoting dance and fitness, or supporting charitable causes, she brings integrity, energy, and genuine commitment to her work.
At 80, Rippon embodies principles of active ageing, continuous learning, and purposeful engagement with society. Her story offers a counternarrative to pervasive ageism in media and beyond, suggesting that experience, skill, and passion remain valuable currencies regardless of chronological age. As she continues her work on new television projects and maintains her advocacy for health, fitness, and dance, British audiences can expect Rippon to remain a compelling presence on their screens for years to come.
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