Angela Rippon at the BBC

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Documentary

Summary

As broadcasting legend Angela Rippon celebrates her 80th birthday, she looks back on her career as one of British television's most familiar faces. The programme starts with Angela's early days as a local reporter, before following her as she rises through the ranks to become one of the most prominent female figures in UK broadcasting

Review

Jane Rackham

Viewers of a certain age know there’s a lot more to Angela Rippon than her flexible performances on the Strictly dancefloor. Among many roles in a 58-year TV career the former newsreader was a Top Gear presenter (the first edition is at 7.50pm), she hosted Antiques Roadshow, the tennis-based game show Matchpoint and quiz show Masterteam (10.50pm) as well as anchoring the Eurovision Song Contest.

In celebration of her 80th birthday, we’re reminded of some of these shows including her pre-wedding interview with Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, and her famous “news flash” appearance on Morecambe and Wise in 1976.

The evening also contains some of her less well-known programmes such as the
1979 documentary Portrait (11.20pm), in which Rippon sits for artist Paul Wyeth and, from 1981, Angela Rippon Meets the Hoofers (9.10pm) in which she traces the roots of tap-dancing. She also gets a tap lesson from the cheeriest of hoofers, the late Lionel Blair.

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rolenamePresenterAngela RipponSeries producerSimon GoretzkiProducerSimon Catt

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