'Sir Chris Whitty is in my sights!"

Angela Rippon on why dance classes should be prescribed by the NHS, ageing and how being single allows her work diary to remain jam-packed

- GEMMA CALVERT

Angela Rippon is exiting her 70s with gusto. After finishing seventh on Strictly Come Dancing last November, she's just completed the show's 30-date nationwide tour, is hosting the 16th series of hit consumer show Rip Off Britain, plus filming for BBC's The One Show and making plans for her 80th birthday in October. Phew!

And when the 79-year-old finds five minutes to finally catch her breath, the veteran broadcaster has a certain someone in her sights - chief medical officer, Sir Chris Whitty.

'He was [recently] talking about wanting older people to do more exercise because, if you do, you're more flexible, stronger, less likely to be ill or to have accidents. He mentioned all sorts of exercises that people should be doing, specifically dance. I've been a bit busy, but he's on my list [of people] to be in touch with to say, "Hello Mr Whitty. We can do this. Let's get people dancing," says Angela, who is an ambassador for the Royal Academy of Dance's Silver Swan's programme, which encourages older learners into ballet, and supports the idea of dance being made available on the NHS.