Angela Rippon eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2023

Angela Rippon became the eighth celebrity to depart Strictly Come Dancing this weekend. She faced Bobby Brazier in the dance-off.

On Saturday night, the remaining couples took to the beautiful Blackpool Tower Ballroom in the hope of impressing judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge, Shirley Ballas and the voting public. The sparkling show opened with an all singing, all dancing group number featuring all of the remaining couples, professional dancers and the Judges, setting the tone for an extraordinary night in the iconic Blackpool Tower.

When the viewer votes and judges’ scores were combined, Angela and Bobby ended up in the bottom two, forcing them to perform again for the judges.

Bobby and his dance partner Dianne Buswell performed their Jive to Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham! Then, Angela and her partner Kai Widdrington performed their American Smooth to Tea For Two by Ella Fitzgerald.

The judges then had to decide who they wanted to keep in the competition.

Craig chose to save Bobby and Dianne for their “standout” performance, while Motsi was full of praise for the dance-off but ultimately chose to save Bobby and Dianne. Anton also chose to save Bobby and Dianne who he said had “danced excellently again”. Although her vote had no bearing on proceedings, Head Judge Shirley said she was in agreement with the other judges.

When asked by [host] Tess Daly 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. But the person who really has to get the most credit is this gentleman here [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!”

Kai added: “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’s results show opened the professional dancers performing 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.

The remaining six couples will take to the dancefloor again next Saturday (25 November) at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.