ANYTHING goes is a suitable career motto for Angela Rippon, one of the best-known faces and voices in British broadcasting, who is exchanging her news scripts for the musical stage at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking on Monday until February 18. Anything Goes follows the story of a luxury ocean liner – the SS American – as it sets sail for Europe from New York. With a cargo of colourful characters, comedy chaos reigns as Porter's classic songs It's De-Lovely, I Get a Kick Out of You and You're the Top are sung by the cast if not by Angela herself. "I can't sing, don't be silly," said Angela. "I just join in with the chorus when I am drowned out by the rest of the cast. I don't even dare to sing in the shower. I wouldn't inflict my voice on anyone." Angela is currently enjoying a three-month theatre stint playing nightmare mother-in-law Evangeline Harcourt before returning to television when she films a new series of Sun, Sea and Bargain Spotting for BBC2 to be broadcast in the summer. "I've got three months free so I thought I would do it for the joy of it," she said. "Anything Goes has some wonderful songs and I think people who are going to come to see it will put the songs into context because they didn't necessarily know where songs like It's De-Lovely came from it. "I also think that people won't realise that it's a musical comedy and how funny it really is. There's nothing realistic at all about it." Angela's enthusiasm for Anything Goes has grown gradually after she initially resisted the lure of a theatre debut after enjoying a successful career in television and radio. "I love the theatre but I have always seen myself as an observer, in the audience. I have never thought of myself as a performer," she said. "It is a nice surprise and it came about by accident. I had just finished filming a series for the BBC when my agent told me she had just taken a call from a production company who wanted me to take part in a musical. "We both laughed but she said she was being serious. I like a challenge and I am always prepared to try something different, so I said I would have a think about it without making any promises. "When I turned up to meet the producer and the director, I asked why on earth they thought I was suitable because I am a journalist. They said that they had watched me at work and they thought I had naturally good timing. We all laughed and I read the script for my role and I decided to do it." Angela is keen to play down her role in Anything Goes as she is still cautious about adding "actor" to her impressive CV. "It's only a tiny part and I think if it had been bigger I would have said 'no way'. "It's an enormous responsibility to perform and you not only have a responsibility to your audience, you have a responsibility to the rest of the cast, who are all professionals. " I didn't want to go in there and be the weakest link but it's such a tiny part I think I can cope." Angela has had to master an American accent for her role, a task she hasn't found difficult after working in Boston for a year in 1984. "I worked as an arts and entertainment correspondent," she said. "I did this because the Americans wouldn't let a British journalist be a political correspondent in America, so I think they though that us British know everything about the theatre, so they gave me that job. "The Boston accent is very unusual and I can't crack that but I met people and had friends from all over America so that's how I picked up the accent. I also watch American television shows like ER and Desperate Housewives so like anyone, I can pick up tips from them." Angela doesn't require any tips about having to tap dance. "I went to dance classes until I was 16 although I was never a professional dancer," she said. "I enjoy the tap dancing in the show and it's a bit like riding a bicycle, once you can dance, it always comes back to you." A former host of axed television series Come Dancing, Angela is delighted that the show has returned to television screens in the guise of Strictly Come Dancing. "I think it is brilliant," she said. "It's a very clever concept and finding a format to bring it back which is new and different is fantastic. "I was sad when Come Dancing finished but this has engaged the nation and people love it. It has also shown that anybody can dance." Angela is famously known for stepping out from behind her news desk and performing a high-kick in a classic Christmas episode of the television comedy series, Morecambe and Wise. "I don't like it being referred to as infamous," she said. "I much prefer legendary. Working with Eric and Ernie was a great privilege and it's nice to look back with fond memories, although I don't think I could repeat the kick today." Although modest about her suppleness, Angela is keen to stay as fit as she can. "I take cod liver oil everyday and I do 15 minutes of yoga every morning," she said. "I keep fit by keeping active. It's as simple as that. I used to ride a lot and I rode competitively for a long period and when that stopped, I started swimming regularly. I used to do 40 lengths three times a week. "During the last couple of years, I have been playing tennis and that keeps me fit for all the running I have to do in this show." Whether choosing a hobby, television programme or theatre role, Angela's attitude is summed up well by the name of the show - Anything Goes.
