Dame Joan Collins Say 'No One Over 45 Should Do Strictly!'

'No one over 45 should do Strictly!' Dame Joan Collins, 84, takes aim at the 2017 Strictly Come Dancing line-up... which features NINE contestants in the 'older' age bracket.....
She's known for her timeless glamour and her age-defying looks.

But actress Dame Joan Collins wasn't flying the flag for age equality on Friday morning, as she declared to Lorraine Kelly that 'no one over 45 should do Strictly Come Dancing'.

Her remark comes as the current 15th season of the show is in the midst of its launch - and features a line-up of 15 celebrity dancers, nine of whom are over the age of 40.

'Two people I know have done it,' she said of the popular BBC dancing series. 'George Hamilton did the American version, Dancing With The Stars. And he is STILL limping,' Dame Joan declared.

In 2006, The Godfather Part III actor George competed in the second season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars with professional Edyta Sliwinska in which they lasted until the sixth round.

Age 66 at the time, he was recovering from knee injuries and relied more on his charm to get through the competition.

Nearly half of the 2017 line-up are over 40 - namely Brian Conley (56), Charlotte Hawkins (42), Chizzy Akudolu (43), Debbie McGee (58), Joe McFadden (41), Rev Richard Coles (55), Ruth Langsford (57), Simon Rimmer (54) and Susan Calman (42).

And while Strictly has been criticised for not representing LGBT contestants by giving them the chance to dance in same sex pairings, the same can't be said for its championing older celebrities.

Last year, actress Leslie Joseph became the oldest ever female contestant, at the age of 71.

Previous contestant Johnny Ball is the oldest man, 74 at the time; and at one point his comedy partner Tommy Cannon was tipped to overtake him when he was rumoured to be taking part this year, at the age of 78.

Current contestant Debbie McGee's late husband has also taken part, 72 at the time.

Regardless of the current season's nine 40+ acts, it's only the second time the show has featured no one over 60 (the last was the 2015 season).