STRICTLY Come Dancing star Angela Scanlon has broken her silence after she was filmed hanging out of a moving car.
The One Show presenter, 39, has been reported to the cops for her “reckless” behaviour and been slammed by road safety campaigners over her antics near the BBC Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, on Monday night.
The Irish presenter has now broken her silence and apologised, telling The Sun: “I made absolutely the wrong decision when I filmed this video. I was coming from rehearsals and was giddy with excitement.
“That’s not an excuse, because what I did was stupid and I’m sorry I let my excitement get the better of my judgement.”
In the video, Angela can be seen striking a pose and performing dance moves through the back window of the car as it speeds along a residential street while the classic hip hop track Rapper’s Delight by Sugarhill Gang is playing.
She initially posted the clip to her Instagram account but quickly removed it following a backlash online.
The footage also shows her popping her head out of the window and appears to be wearing a face mask while she waves to a passing cyclist.
The star, who also presents the makeover show Your Home Made Perfect for BBC 2, doesn’t appear to be wearing a seatbelt in the video.
Nicholas Lyes, Director of Policy at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, told The Sun: “Dangling any part of the body out of the window of a moving car is incredibly dangerous and risks serious injury or death.
“To make matters worse, in this instance it appears no seatbelt was being worn which risks the passenger being thrown out of the vehicle when the brakes are applied.”
A Brake charity spokesman said: “Wearing a seatbelt is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce our risk of death or injury in a road crash.
“It is also a legal requirement in the UK.
“It is important for any person in a position of influence to act responsibly when driving on our roads, so that those who look up to them can follow their example.
“We are relieved that in this instance no one was hurt or killed.”
A member of the public who reported the star to Hertfordshire Police, said: “I was rooting for Angela to lift the Strictly glitter ball until I watched this video.
“No seatbelt, no concern for her safety or other road users, it was reckless.
“What would have happened if a motorbike or cyclist was driving past?
“If it was any other member of the public they’d face a big fine.
“I’m sick of celebrities thinking they can behave however they like. It was a stupid stunt.”
The complaint has been passed to the Cameras, Tickets, Collisions Unit for Hertfordshire Police and the Digital Evidence Team is studying the footage.
Sources say Angela was travelling in a BBC car between studios on her way to film Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two with dance partner Carlos Gu.
Bizarrely, it’s not the first time Angela has come close to falling from a moving car.
She once admitted she tried to jump from a moving car after suffering a panic attack while on holiday in France in 2014.
During the attack she imagined the roof of the vehicle she was travelling in was lowering, the car becoming very small and she couldn’t breathe.
She revealed: “For me, it’s a really very visceral feeling in my stomach, there’s pressure on my chest, a breathlessness – it’s quite physical.
“I think it was down to suddenly stopping and my discomfort with that.
“Holidays have this weird triggering thing for me because you’re checking out.”
The Irish star, originally from County Meath, was announced in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on Radio 2, which was being fronted by Gaby Roslin.
Angela joked she was terrible at keeping secrets.
She said: “I’ve only told 1,700 of my closest friends,” adding, ”I’m terrified, I’m excited and I have so many questions. Will they make me tan?
“How itchy are sequins?! Do they do flesh coloured sports bras? Well – there’s only one way to find out, right?”
London-based Angela has been married to Roy Horgan since 2014 and they have two daughters.
The BBC has declined to comment.
