Biography
Angela Rippon is best known for her work as a newsreader. She is a current contestant on 2011’s Dancing on Ice. At 66, she is oldest celebrity to compete in the competition.
After leaving school when she was 17, budding journo Angela started off working in the photo office of the Western Morning News, while also working for the Sunday Independent. She went on to work for the BBC’s regional radio, eventually becoming editor of Westward Television.
Her presenting career started with BBC Plymouth in 1974. Angela is often considered the first female newsreader on prime-time TV news, as she was the first female to be given a regular BBC slot.
Angela first showed off her dancing skills on the 1976 Morcambe and Wise Christmas special. She starred in a sketch involving her reading the news before launching into an energetic high kicking dance routine.
Having trained in ballet since she was 17, her dancing did not go unnoticed. The sketch was so popular that Angela was invited back the following year and was asked to present the hit show Come Dancing, Strictly’s cooler older brother.
She has since toured the country performing in the musical theatre production of Anything Goes. During the 1980’s Angela kept herself busy hosting game shows Masterteam and What’s my Line?
During the early nineties, she presented Angela Rippon's Morning Report on LBC and later, Angela Rippon's Drivetime. She was also a regular stand-in newsreader on The Big Breakfast, filling in for the regular newsreaders when they were on holiday.
By 2005 Angela could be seen on BBC presenting Sun, Sea and Bargain Spotting. In 2007 Angela started presenting Cash In The Attic on BBC1.
Her hard work did not go unnoticed and in 2004 she was awarded the OBE at the Queen’s Birthday Honours. We always knew the Queen was a Cash in The Attic fan.
Around this time, in 2000, Angela was appointed Chairman of the English National Ballet. After three years she was forced to step down after complaints were made about her "schoolmistressy" and "imperious" leadership. Not sure what that means but it sure don’t sound too good.