Strictly Come Dancing fans have levelled further criticism at Angela Rippon following her dance-off victory against Adam Thomas.
However, this time much of the furore stems from the fact Rippon has announced she is one of the first three celebs joining the Strictly Live Tour in 2024.
Rippon - who branded her dance-off ordeal as "upsetting" - has joined Layton Williams and Ellie Leach as the first three stars who'll go up and down the country next year with the professional dancers.
The Strictly Live Tour Instagram account broke the news on Wednesday with a snap of the three dancers alongside the caption: "EXCITING NEWS!
"It’s time to announce the first three celebrities who will be joining @jmanrara, @shirleyballas, @craigrevel and @mrantondubeke on the 2024 Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour: former Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach; legendary award-winning broadcaster Angela Rippon; and Bad Education and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie actor and singer Layton Williams.
"Book your tickets today and get ready to dance your way into the new year!"
Rippon - who's already been defended so far this series by fans following backlash to her routines - was similarly overjoyed by the career move as she shared the announcement with the caption: "I am extremely excited to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing tour!
Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington will be hoping to avoid the dance-off in Week Eight
BBC
"Keep your eyes peeled on @strictlycomedancinglive for all the announcements but I'm so happy @laytonwilliams and @ellielouiseleach are also along for the ride!"
However, fresh from her dance-off glory controversy, some Strictly fans took to the web following the announcement to claim her spot on the upcoming tour is the reason she's been scored favourably by judges and progressed so far in the contest.
"Ah, that’s why they’re going so easy on Angela R," one Redditor typed on a thread about the announcement.
Another claimed the same thing on Instagram under the announcement as they typed: "This is why angela is being kept in."
Angela Rippon is heading on the Strictly Live Tour next year
INSTAGRAM/ANGELA RIPPON
"Now it’s clear why Angela Rippon was saved," a third echoed while a fourth cryptically shared: "And the plot thickens," followed by eye-rolling emojis.
However, others were quick to rush to Rippon's defence, including one person on Reddit who argued: "79 and doing tour? Respect to Rippon. But ooooof, what a bad time to announce this because now the conspiracy theories and hate about her will ramp up even more."
On Instagram, others expressed their delight at the line-up: "Yesssss 3 of my favourites are there, can't wait to see Ellie, Layton and Angela doing the tour, super excited for January/February now." (sic)
Whatever fans may think, Rippon will be back to dance again come Saturday evening and this weekend, she and Kai Widdrington are tackling the Paso Doble.
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Angela Rippon succeeded in the latest dance-off against Adam Thomas
BBC
In what could be a good sign for her chances, a number of the fandom claim to have "worked out" who'll face the dance-off ahead of Blackpool Week - and Rippon could be safe.
Instead, due to the fact both have been allocated the Samba to perform, it's Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Annabel Croft who fans think are most likely to land in the bottom two.
