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Angela Scanlon (born 29 December 1983) is an Irish stylist, journalist, and television presenter. She was announced as one of the co-presenters of Series 8 on 3 February 2016, alongside fellow Irish presenter Dara Ó Briain, and reprised her role in Series 9 and 10.

Scanlon wore blue overalls, provided by Topshop, during Series 8.

Robot Wars[]

Chompalot Angela Scanlon

Angela Scanlon is given the controls of competing machine Chompalot in The Pits

Angela started out as a relative unknown to many Robot Wars fans, with this role considered by some as her "big break" into a wider television audience. She spoke of her excitement online:

"So excited to be joining the mighty @daraobriain on the brand new series of ROBOT WARS!!!!"
— Angela's Twitter Account
Team Carbide Dara Angela trophy

Angela Scanlon with Team Carbide

Her role in the Revival Series was more significant and far-reaching than those of previous female co-presenters, being equal to those of fellow co-host Dara Ó Briain. While reporting on and interviewing teams and Judges in The Pits - as with Philippa Forrester, Julia Reed and Jayne Middlemiss - Scanlon also featured prominently in introductions, outros, voiceover work, and in conducting pre- and post-battle arena interviews alongside Ó Briain. Throughout Series 10, she and Ó Briain would be seen watching battles from a vacant control room, with Scanlon expressing particularly animated and excitable reactions to the action within the main combat arena. In Heat D, Scanlon assisted roboteers with repairs to competitor Androne 4000, prior to its Semi-Final fight against Nuts 2.

Angela Scanlon promotional

Angela Scanlon in a promotional shot with Sir Killalot

Behemoth vs TR2

Angela Scanlon's Behemoth flips TR2

In Episode 1 of Battle of the Stars, Scanlon took to the controls of Behemoth to battle Dara, who was controlling TR2. Scanlon repeatedly missed with her flips, overturning Behemoth in the process, allowing TR2 to throw it around. Behemoth's only flip came when Dara Ó Briain willingly allowed Angela to flip TR2, and three minutes passed, with no official winner being declared. Unaired on television, the two continue to battle after cease, but Scanlon eventually drove Behemoth into the pit[1].

"Behemoth let me down, Dara Ó Briain was merciless!"
— Angela Scanlon[2]

In Series 9, Scanlon conducted interviews with the Judges in segments previously exclusive to Dara Ó Briain:

Angela Scanlon 1

Angela Scanlon in an official shot

  • Heat A: Alongside Dara Ó Briain, Scanlon played and lost a game of Connect 4 against a robotic arm, while Professor Sethu Vijayakumar explained the concept of 'shared autonomy'.
  • Heat C: Scanlon talked to Professor Noel Sharkey about the use of robotics in farming.
  • Heat D: Angela Scanlon talked to Dr Lucy Rogers about the available choices of armour for combat robots. This gave Scanlon the opportunity to strike an HDPE panel with a hammer, and cut into it with a grinder, before attempting to use the grinder on a HARDOX panel.

In Series 10, Scanlon once again interviewed the Judges to discuss topics relating to robotics and Robot Wars itself:

  • Heat A: Scanlon talked to Vijayakumar about the British robotics industry and a rocket suit developed by engineer Richard Browning. This was followed by a short segment featuring Browning and demonstrations of his Daedalus Mk. 1 jet suit. She also claimed that it would be a "good outfit for a new Refbot."
  • Heat C: Scanlon interviewed Dr Lucy Rogers, who explained the role of the House Robots as well as offering her views on the newly-introduced Fog of War arena hazard.

Outside Robot Wars[]

Scanlon's best-known work before Robot Wars was hosting the online backstage content for The Voice UK, having previously released documentaries Oi Ginger!, and Full Frontal. In-between the filming and airing of Series 8, Scanlon also became a radio presenter, and now frequently appears on BBC Radio 2. She co-presents a show with Russell Kane on Saturday mornings on Virgin Radio. She has also written for various well-known women's magazines, such as Grazia and U Magazine.

In early 2017, Angela Scanlon began hosting BBC's The One Show while its usual host Alex Jones went on maternity leave. She hosted the show alongside Matt Baker to positive reception. Angela was also one of seven celebrities who championed one object for Britain's Greatest Invention on BBC 2 in June 2017, with the mobile phone being her choice.

In November 2017, Angela revealed she was 6 months pregnant with her first child[3], and gave birth to Ruby Ellen Horgan on 25 February 2018[4]. Scanlon's second daughter, Marnie Fae Horgan, was born on 11 February 2022[5].

Since 2021, Scanlon has fronted her own talk show for RTÉ One, titled Angela Scanlon's Ask Me Anything. Premiering on 23 October 2021, the ongoing series involves her interviewing celebrity guests as they are asked about and light-heartedly discuss 'absolutely anything'.[6]

On 4 August 2023, an official BBC press release announced Angela Scanlon as the sixth contestant confirmed to appear in the twenty-first series of Strictly Come Dancing. The statement included a brief mention of her stint as co-presenter of Series 8-10, along with her past work hosting BBC documentaries and Ask Me Anything.[7] Scanlon was paired up with professional dancer Carlos Gu in the pre-series launch show, the live series officially beginning on 23 September.[8]

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