Angela Rippon was previously told by BBC bosses that her time on television was over due to her age and to "make room for other women" when she was 50.
The 78 year old, who is competing on this year's Strictly Come Dancing with partner Kai Widdrington, has opened up about her age and the comments she previously received from TV bosses in a new interview.
Speaking to Women's Weekly, Angela said she was once told she was too old to continue with her TV career. She recalled bosses told her: "Angela, you've had your day and you have to make room for the other women coming up behind you."
The writer and presenter told the magazine: "I'm well into my 70s and I'm still doing a full-time job in television and broadcasting, so I suppose that's my revenge for having to listen to that kind of patronising twaddle!"
Despite the comments made to her in her 50s, Angela has continued to work in television and is now the oldest contestant to ever compete on Strictly Come Dancing.
She had wowed the judges and viewers with her routines so far alongside Strictly pro Kai, 28, and she's definitely proven age is just a number.
Angela, who turns 79 on 12 October, has said she doesn't want the focus to be on her age as it "shouldn't be a factor" in her performances on the BBC One show.
"But I don’t want people to concentrate on my age, it shouldn’t be a factor in what I’m doing," she told RTE. "If it’s something that encourages people to think more positively about themselves as they get older, then I think that’s probably a good thing, but personally in my head, I’ve been 30 for the last 40 years."
Angela went on to admit she knows she needs to take extra care of her body while on Strictly, saying: "I’m not daft, I am going to be 79 next week and as I’ve said on several occasions, while my head is saying, 'Gosh, you have a lovely time Ang’, my body is saying ‘what the heck are you doing’. And I know I have to look after it."
Ahead of her Strictly debut, Angela said she hopes to inspire older people to get on the dance floor.
She said: “I’ll be 79 in October. I was around dancers for a long time when doing Come Dancing, and I was chairman of the English National Ballet for four years, so I know what’s required. If you want longevity, dance!”
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