Strictly Come Dancing star told 'to make room for other women' by BBC bosses as she was 'too old'

Strictly Come Dancing's Angela Rippon and pro partner Kai Widdrington have hit back at critics, who claimed they have only performed "slow dances" on the competition so far. Angela, 79, and Kai, 28, appeared on Thursday's Good Morning Britain to talk about their journey on Strictly so far.

Brendan Cole has said that Annabel Croft and Zara McDermott's days on Strictly Come Dancing are "numbered" as he shared his verdict on this year's line-up of celebrities.The former Strictly pro, 47, has shared his thoughts with Sky Bingo, as he began: "Annabel and Johannes [Radebe] and Zara and Graziano [Di Prima] days are numbered. "I’m surprised either couple has lasted this long." He also hit out at former Emmerdale star Adam Thomas, as he continued: "Also, Adam and Luba [Mushtuk], I don’t know what their number was, but I don’t see it belonging on Strictly.To me it was a nothing number and I didn’t want to watch it." Turning his thoughts to Angela Rippon, Brendan argued she's not going to get better if she can’t create "magical moments" with her Latin numbers.

Some Strictly Come Dancing fans have been bonded by their 'hate' of the same thing, which they expressed following the latest live show. It was another jaw-dropping night in the ballroom as 11 of the 12 remaining couples competed in week five of the BBC One dance contest.

Strictly Come Dancing fans have been in awe of Angela Rippon for weeks and who can deny her having the best legs in the business following her high-kicking across the dancefloor.

A Strictly Come Dancing star was treated by medics after she sliced open her leg backstage moments before performing. But despite the painful injury, she continued to go on to perform, and says that nobody in the audience, nor the judges 'had a clue' what had gone on just moments prior.

BBC Strictly Come Dancing Viewers are claiming there is 'clear favouritism' amongst the judges after one celebrity was given the 'perfect critique'. Coronation Street's Ellie Leach stunned fans on Saturday night as she performed the Paso Doble with partner Vito Coppola.

Ahead of this week’s Strictly Come Dancing live show, Angela Rippon has revealed how she hopes it will be less eventful, after it emerged she sliced open her leg just minutes before taking to the dance floor during week four! As eagle eyed viewers may recall, last week Angela suffered an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction when her shoe came undone at the end of her dance, prompting her partner Kai Widdrington to drop down to his knees in order to fasten it. However, it has since emerged that this was far from the only catastrophe to befall Angela that night, as she had previously cut open her leg in rehearsals just moments before taking to the dance floor.

The BBC's most senior Strictly Come Dancing contestant, Angela Rippon, has been delighting fans with her dance skills and impressive flexibility with partner Kai Widdrington. Although Angela is celebrated for her illustrious TV career, she has mostly kept her private life away from the limelight. Angela's life, as fascinating as it is, has been marked by personal challenges, including the end of her marriage to childhood sweetheart Christopher Dare, which was described as a "painful" breakup.The couple, who were sweethearts from an early age, tied the knot in 1967, just as Angela's career was taking off.

Kai Widdrington has announced a new career move with girlfriend and pro Nadiya Bychkova that has nothing to do with Strictly Come Dancing.

Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova has once again shared her love for Janette Manrara after they were last seen celebrating her birthday together. At the end of last month, the dancer was up north for an appearance on BBC's Morning Live, meaning she could catch up with Janette who moved to Cheshire earlier this year.

Angela Scanlon has gone against the usual Strictly Come Dancing grain - and some fans have noticed. Now, the Irish TV presenter has opened up about her refusal to be doused in fake tan before appearing in the ballroom every Saturday night.

Angela Rippon, 79, and Kai Widdrington performed a Rumba to Rise Like A Phoenix by Conchita Wurst for week four of Strictly Come Dancing. The pair wowed the judges with their routine and received a score of 31 for the notoriously difficult dance. Anton du Beke said it was "exactly the sort of rumba I like" while Shirley Ballas said "I am shocked, it is beautiful" and Craig Revel Horwood added: "I absolutely loved it!" Motsi Mabuse told Angela: "I feel like you are just a message for all women out there, saying, 'Don't stop, life is good.'" But it wasn't just the judges who were pleased with the performance as Kai rushed to praise Angela when the music ended.

Fans of Strictly Come Dancing were left wondering if Tess Daly had suffered a 'wardrobe malfunction' as soon as she appeared in the ballroom. The presenter was back fronting the hit BBC One show on Saturday night (October 14) alongside Claudia Winkleman.

Strictly Come Dancing's Nadiya Bychkova has broken her silence after she was photographed being consoled by boyfriend Kai Widdrington after the Pride of Britain awards. The 34 year old professional dancer appeared to have broken down in tears as her 28 year old co-star boyfriend wrapped an arm around her. He was also seen clutching her hand as they drove away from the Pride of Britain awards, which was held at Grosvenor House in London on Sunday.

Strictly Come Dancing fans have had a sneaky look at this Saturday' (October 14) fare on Strictly: It Takes Two, and it's fair to say everyone is looking forward to Angela Rippon. The veteran broadcaster will be dancing a Rumba with partner Kai Widdrington.

Strictly Come Dancing's Nadiya Bychkova was consoled by her co-star boyfriend Kai Widdrington after they left the Pride of Britain awards together. Nadiya, 34, appeared to have broken down in tears as her 28 year old boyfriend wrapped a comforting arm around her as she looked to be sobbing on his shoulder.

Prepare for an extra sprinkle of Hollywood glamour on the dance floor this weekend, as Strictly Come Dancing's epic Movie Week is back.The 14 remaining dance couples are set to take on an eclectic range of performances inspired by La La Land's biggest films. After finding themselves in the dance-off last week, broadcaster Nikita Kanda and Gorka Márquez will hope their Jive to Kids In America from the 1995 hit Clueless will be enough to save them from a similar fate this time round.

Strictly Come Dancing fans have accused head judge Shirley Ballas of giving out low scores to the female contestants on the show, just a year after she was hit with a sexism row.The experienced dancer gave a lower score than her fellow judges to celebrities, Anglea Rippon, Zara McDermott, and Ellie Leach on Saturday, 30 September. As Shirley gave her feedback and then her score during the show, she was booed by members of the live audience.

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Layton Williams said he has faced “low key trolling” that he has found “overwhelming”. On Sunday, a day after Layton and professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin received four nines from the judges on the BBC show, the 29-year-old revealed that he had been getting mixed messages from the public. Writing on social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, Layton said: “The messages of love are overwhelming but as is the low key trolling.

Strictly Come Dancing's Angela Rippon stunned the audience tonight when she effortlessly kicked her leg into a stand split at the age of 78 during her first ever performance on the BBC show.