Angela Rippon has become the eighth celebrity eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
The veteran TV presenter and broadcaster and her professional partner Kai Widdrington found themselves in the dreaded dance-off for the third week in a row after coming bottom of the leaderboard in last night’s Blackpool Special. They scored 28 points out of a possible 40 from the judges for their American Smooth to Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘Tea For Two’. Joining them in the bottom two were actor Bobby Brazier and his partner Dianne Buswell, who scored 35 out of 40 for their Jive to ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ by Wham!.
After both couples performed their routines again, presenter Tess Daly asked the four judges which couple they wanted to save. Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all chose to save Bobby and Dianne, meaning Angela and Kai sadly had to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
When asked by Tess about her time on the show, Angela said: “I have to tell you that the last nine weeks have probably been the most terrifying, the most fantastic, the most glorious, the most joyful that I have spent for a very long time in my profession.
“I have had the time of my life, people keep making reference to the fact that I presented Come Dancing, but that was forty years ago, that was a different time! He [Kai] wasn’t even born then! But actually being this side of the competition, this side of the programme has been really an eye opener for me in so many different ways. Everybody talks about the team and all the pros – everyone who has danced – there is a real team spirit in this programme unlike anything I’ve come across anywhere else in any of the many programmes I’ve done. It’s absolutely fabulous. They support us, they encourage us all the time – it’s absolutely wonderful. But the person who really has to get the most credit is this gentleman here [to Kai].”
“He’s [Kai] an old soul on young shoulders. He’s 28 and I’m 79, there’s a 51 year difference in our ages. He has looked after me so brilliantly, he’s a wonderful dancer, a great choreographer, but he’s a terrific teacher… and he has the patience of a saint! All I can say is that you’ve [to Kai] got me here so don’t you dare cry! He and his partner, Nadiya, are in every sense of the word beautiful people and I am so pleased to have you in my life.”
Tess then also asked Kai if he had any words for his partner Angela. He said: “Since week one when I met this amazing woman – as she said I wasn’t even born when she did Come Dancing, I had to ask my parents about the amazing Morecombe and Wise moment that was so famous, and about Come Dancing. Like Angela just said, there’s a 50 year age gap between us, but we’re like mates!
“Dancing with you [to Angela] the whole way through this competition has just been such a celebration of yourself and her life and I wish she could see me now. I’m so proud of you [to Angela] and you should be proud of yourself, it’s been my absolute honour and pleasure to dance with you especially in this beautiful ballroom.”
Sunday evening’s Results Show was opened by Strictly’s troupe of professional dancers turning the iconic Tower Ballroom purple with a memorable routine to a Harry Styles medley. There was also a performance from Madness singing their new song ‘C’est La Vie’ with a beautiful dance from Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Jowita Przystał, Gorka Márquez, Michelle Tsiakkas and Neil Jones.
Angela and Kai will be joining Fleur East for their first exclusive televised interview live on Strictly It Takes Two on Monday 20th November at 6:30 PM on BBC Two.
The remaining six couples will take to the dancefloor next when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 25th November at 7:30 PM, with the results show on Sunday 26th November at 7:20 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
