Strictly’s Angela Rippon, 79, claims former BBC boss tried to make her resign at 50 and told her she’d ‘had her day’ as she fires back ‘I ain’t finished yet!’

Angela Rippon has claimed the BBC tried to make her quit aged 50 after being told she’d ‘had her day’. 

The presenter, 79, who most recently took part in this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing, branded former BBC Director General John Birt ‘ageist and sexist’ in a blistering attack. 

Angela recalled how the BBC boss had urged her to resign as she appeared on stage to collect TRIC’s Outstanding Achievement Award at the Londoner Hotel on Tuesday. 

During her acceptance speech, she told the audience: ‘It’s actually now 57 years since I’ve started doing broadcasting. 

‘When I was 50, I had a conversation with the then director general of the BBC, who was called John Birt, who said I was having a bit of a problem with something at the BBC.

Angela Rippon has claimed the BBC tried to make her quit aged 50 after being told she’d ‘had her day’

The presenter, 79, who most recently took part in this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing , blasted former BBC Director General John Birt as ‘ageist and sexist’

‘He said to me, “Angela, you have to recognise now that you’re 50, you’ve had your day and it’s time to make way for the younger women coming up behind you.”

‘So he managed to be a misogynist and an ageist in one statement, which I thought was quite a trick, and the thing is, John Birt, you said I’ve had my day, [but] what I’ve actually had right up until now, is the time of my life.’ 

Angela began her television career at BBC South West in Plymouth in 1966, when she was 21, before becoming a reporter for BBC TV news.

She first presented a national news programme on BBC2 in 1974. 

Angela went on to tell the audience she has a job she ‘absolutely adores’ and is ‘extremely proud’ of the women who are now reading national news as she felt ‘like a novelty’ when she first started out. 

‘When he said I had to make my way for younger women coming up behind me, I have to say one of the great pleasures of my half a century now in broadcasting – I am a little bit older than commercial radio,’ she said.

‘In that half century, it has been wonderful for me, having been something of a novelty when I started to read the news for the first time on national television, as the only woman who was reading it nationally. 

‘To find so many wonderful, young women have climbed up through that hole in the glass ceiling behind me. I am so proud of every one of them, all of those women of all ages now who have demonstrated by their skill and by talent – they’re not fulfilling an HR box ticking exercise. 

Angela recalled how the BBC boss had urged her to resign when she was 50 (pictured in 1996) 

In an exclusive chat with MailOnline, Angela spoke about her time on Strictly after she exited the show in a ‘full circle’ moment at Blackpool Tower

‘They’re there on merit because what they do, and they stand shoulder to shoulder with their male colleagues. And there is respect on both sides, and I love that now about the industry in which I work.’

Angela rounded off her speech by saying: ‘And one final message to John Birt, when I was 50, you said I’d had my day. I’m now 79, and I ain’t finished yet!’

 MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.

In an exclusive chat with MailOnline, Angela spoke about her time on Strictly after she exited the show in a ‘full circle’ moment at Blackpool Tower. 

She said: ‘Strictly hasn’t come to an end cause I will be doing the tour so it continues. I’m very much excited and of course we all have to dance in the final as well, so it hasn’t yet come to an end. 

‘I dance when I can because I am an ambassador for the Silver Swans Programme of The Royal Academy [of Dance], and I go to a ballet class probably once every six weeks, which is what I can manage with work, so I should keep up being fit.’ 

Angela has also ruled out starring in any other reality TV shows in the future as she had a ‘wonderful’ time with professional dancer Kai Widdrington, 28. 

She said: ‘No, I’m done, but I’ve had a wonderful time with a wonderful partner, and I loved every minute of it. It was great.’ 

Of celebrating her milestone 80th birthday next year, Angela said: ‘I’m still thinking about what I’m going to do for that, that’s still in the pipeline.

‘I had a big bash for my 60th and I went to Amman on my own for my 70th, so I don’t know what I’m going to do yet for my 80th – there’s a few ideas in the pipeline, but au haven’t got round to deciding yet.’

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