Angela Rippon, 79, inundated with well wishes after making rare family announcement: 'New addition!'
Angela Rippon has announced a new addition to her extended family
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Angela Rippon, 79, shared a sweet family update with her social media followers on Instagram yesterday and introduced the newest member of the family.
Whilst Rippon often only shares her work commitments with her fans, she posted three images of herself and a young baby.
She captioned the post: "Meet Olive. The latest and most beautiful addition to my extended family. She has the sunniest smile that lights up the most dismal of days."
Fans flocked to the comment section of the post to wish the family congratulations, with one asking for more details on the relation between herself and the adorable tot.
Rippon explained: "She is the daughter of two of my dearest friends. I shall be teaching her to call me Aunty Ange as soon as we get past the gurgling stage. AR!"
Before long, other fans rushed to congratulate Rippon and her extended family on the newborn's arrival.
"How gorgeous… you look very happy," one added before a second said: "Aww those cuddles are so priceless @theangelarippon."
"She’s very happy looking. A little smiler," someone else noted before a fourth commented: "Congratulations on the latest addition to your extended family @theangelarippon, Olive is a real cutie pie."
And a fifth wrote: "A smile to light up the world! What a beautiful baby." (sic)
The sweet update comes after Rippon recently criticised the BBC for sidelining her programme - Rip Off Britain - during peak viewing times, despite presenting the successful show since 2009.
She challenged the broadcaster's choice to keep her series in the daytime lineup, with "Watchdog" being relegated to a segment within The One Show.
Speaking to Radio Times magazine, she noted: "How come such a valuable programme doesn't command the spotlight and the bigger audience of a primetime slot?
Angela Rippon recently discussed her annoyance at her BBC series being kept in the daytime schedule
BBC
"Why is consumer journalism absent from BBC primetime television? Well, that's the question we are constantly asked by loyal viewers."
Rippon described the decision to keep Rip Off Britain within the daytime schedule as an "oddity" and added: "Rip Off Britain was conceived as a daytime programme, so that's where we stay. It's one of the peculiarities of TV scheduling."
The 79-year-old added: "Let's face it, in the current economic climate where every penny counts and consumers are more and more under threat from scams that rob them of their hard-earned cash, millions more could benefit from our expertise, advice and reputation."
The former Strictly Come Dancing star also pointed out the heightened need the programming in light of "sophisticated scammers, fraudsters and blatant rip-off merchants".
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Angela Rippon also made history and became the oldest Strictly Come Dancing contestant last year
BBC
She remarked: "Fortunately, BBC iPlayer means you can be your own scheduler. Watch 'Rip Off Britain' in your own prime time, at nine o'clock at night or three in the morning - whatever works for you."
Rippon became Strictly's oldest contestant when she came on board last year and was paired with Kai Widdrington - making it all the way to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom special before being eliminated.