In 2023, Angela Rippon left Strictly Come Dancing viewers absolutely gobsmacked with her incredible high kick during a routine with Kai Widdrington. At 78 years old, the spectacular move was wholly surprising from the programme’s eldest-ever participant, and it certainly ranks as one of the show’s most memorable moments.

Speaking about her wellbeing in an exclusive chat, the broadcaster revealed how she maintains such remarkable flexibility, reflecting on a period when she had previously become unwell.

Supporting Age UK’s Act Now, Age Better initiative, Angela, 80, explained that the importance of staying fit and healthy was instilled in her from childhood, and she believes this has helped her maintain a positive lifestyle.

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Providing an update following her illness during the Strictly tour last year, the former news anchor confirmed she is flourishing and has no intention of stepping back.

Instead, she continues to have a hectic diary and harbours ambitious plans to keep working for at least another year, in time to celebrate her 60th on-screen milestone next September, according to Wales Online.

To remain energetic, Angela revealed she is committed to completing a minimum of ten minutes of exercise daily, alongside regular dancing and tennis sessions.

“Even in a small hotel room [when working away], I do a few stretching exercises that set me up for the day,” she said.

“When I’m at home, I’ll do 15 to 20 minutes of exercise, and I try to walk at least once, if not twice, a week depending on my work schedule. I’ve been ill, and I don’t like being ill—I don’t like it at all. I like being fit, I like being able to do all the things that I do, and the only way to do that is, as Eileen Fowler [an exercise instructor] said, ‘You’ve got to keep the machine working,’ and that’s what I do. It’s not a chore for me; it’s something I enjoy doing.”

Regarding her nutrition, the broadcaster enjoys numerous wholesome choices, including chicken, fish, and vegetables, while largely avoiding processed alternatives.

She is also especially conscious about maintaining her brain health, having witnessed her late mother’s struggle with dementia. In doing so, she highlights the importance of dancing, proper nutrition, enjoying music, and keeping the mind active through activities like puzzles.

Adhering to medical guidance on brain-enhancing strategies and maintaining physical fitness offers hope for longevity for Angela, who recently declared she harbours an “ambition to die young—as late as possible.”

Explaining her remark, she said: “It’s not original to me; I heard someone else say it and thought, ‘What a brilliant saying.’ But again, like the campaign Age UK is running, it’s something I can empathise with very easily. I’m 81 in a few weeks, and I can still do things a lot of people my age can’t.

"I did the advert for Smart Meters, and you’d be amazed by how many people say to me, ‘Is that really you putting your leg up on the table?’ I say, it’s not AI, it’s AR—it’s me. I can do the splits; I can still do those things. I probably don’t do them quite as well as I did when I was 20, 30, or 40, but I can still do them, and I like that.”

Age UK’s Act Now, Age Better initiative, unveiled earlier this year, urges people to take steps towards ageing in the most positive way possible—beginning with maintaining an active lifestyle.

Supported by scientific evidence, Angela insists: “Dance really is the one exercise that works on your mind and your body. When you dance, if you think about it, you use every part of your body. What it is doing is stimulating your brain.

"We all react to music, and the music is like an engine: it drives our feet, it drives our body, and if you’re listening to a great piece of music, you can’t avoid tapping your toes or moving your fingers or shoulders—your body just reacts to music. Whatever you do to get fit, you should think of it as making an investment in your wellbeing pension plan. Find something that stimulates you, that you really enjoy.”