Strictly's Ian Waite reveals his secret connection with contestant Angela Rippon

ok.co.uk:

Strictly Come Dancing competitor Angela Rippon and ex-pro Ian Waite's surprise history has been revealed. Joining Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley on Monday's edition of Good Morning Britain, 28 August, alongside his pal and fellow dancer Vincent Simone, Ian was discussing the 78 year old journalist's upcoming Strictly journey when their connection cropped up. "Angela, she's just so youthful and I believe she can still do the splits...

I think she's gonna be phenomenal," began Ian, 52. "She did a little DVD with me, actually it's on video cassette as well - 20 years ago, can you believe it?

And I was the pro presenter/teacher on the DVD and she was basically my partner, and the day I filmed that I got the call from the BBC to be on Strictly, so that was quite a big day, yeah." The production in question was titled Ballroom Dancing with Angela Rippon, with the pair providing a "fun and easy-to-follow guide to elementary ballroom dancing", according to a synopsis.They covered the Cha Cha Cha, Jive, Tango, Waltz and Quickstep.

Elsewhere in this GMB interview, Vincent, 40, weighed in on how much Strictly has evolved in the 11 years since his departure from the pro team. "In our day it was quite an intimate show," stated the Italian. "We used to get a runner coming to us after the live show for us to choreograph the new dance for the following week. "Then on stage all you would see is us, the dancer and the band, nothing else.