BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Sarah Hadland recalls 'appalling' low before joining the show

Miranda star Sarah Hadland has spoken out about her latest stint on Strictly Come Dancing, expressing her wish to avoid age-related commentary. The 53 year old actress is waltzing through the competition with 2023 champion Vito Coppola, impressing judges and consistently ranking in the higher echelons of the leaderboard.

In a conversation with The Times, Sarah remarked: "I’d love for my age not to be commented on, for it to be accepted that women are amazing and don’t need to be limited, when men seem to be allowed to do things without any comment." She added, with a touch of inspiration: "But if women watch and go, ‘Wow, I’m in my 50s, I could do that too,’ then that’s absolutely brilliant."

Advocating for a change in perspective on women's longevity in the limelight, she stated: "Rather than go on about it, I’d rather just show what I can do. We need to change this narrative of women having a shelf life." Sharing insights into her own vitality, Sarah said, "I know loads my age who are really fit and active, they don’t drop off the ends of the Earth. We just need to be more visible."

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Reflecting on the life lessons from her first marathon run in her 30s, she noted, "It was a similar thing — I wondered if I could do it and a lot of people said ‘no, no’, but in the end that galvanised me."

Sarah also discussed the evolution of her exercise philosophy, moving from a weight-focused approach to seeking strength and mental wellness: "When I was young I exercised because I wanted to be thin and that’s an appalling goal," she said. Nowadays, she prioritises being "Now I exercise because I want to be strong and capable, I want my child to see me fit and healthy and because it helps my mental health."

Sarah is best recognised for her role as Stevie Sutton in Miranda Hart’s beloved BBC sitcom, Miranda.

"I’d love for my age not to be commented on, for it to be accepted that women are amazing and don’t need to be limited, when men seem to be allowed to do things without any comment."

"But if women watch and go, ‘Wow, I’m in my 50s, I could do that too,’ then that’s absolutely brilliant."

"Rather than go on about it, I’d rather just show what I can do. We need to change this narrative of women having a shelf life."

"I know loads my age who are really fit and active, they don’t drop off the ends of the Earth. We just need to be more visible."

"It was a similar thing — I wondered if I could do it and a lot of people said ‘no, no’, but in the end that galvanised me."

"When I was young I exercised because I wanted to be thin and that’s an appalling goal."

Comedian and actress Miranda, aged 51, who opened up about her struggle with Lyme disease, made a surprise visit to Sarah and Vito during rehearsals, as seen in a clip aired on last weekend's programme. Disguised as a "choreographer" complete with a black turtleneck and clutching a small dog, she delighted the pair.

This Saturday, Sarah and Vito are set to dance the American Smooth to Heather Small's 'Proud', a track frequently associated with Sarah’s character Stevie from the show Miranda.