A SEPTUGENARIAN is enjoying the national limelight after winning the chance to star in a television advert.

Joan Jerram, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, impressed bosses at Age UK and appears in the charity’s new advert, which first aired on Monday.

The advert aims to show that growing older does not mean that hobbies and passions stop.

It celebrates age - showing that growing older does not have to be a barrier to making the most of life and the different things that Age UK does for older people.

Mrs Jerram is an avid dancer whose favourite styles include Salsa and Latin American.

She joined tap dancers, a Tai Chi group, ballroom dancers, a 91 year-old bodybuilder, a unicyclist and an 81 year-old leading lady on the set of the advert in London.

The grandmother-of-four, who applied to Age UK after seeing an article in a national newspaper, said: "I never thought I would be chosen.

“I asked my grandson to teach me to send an email so I could enter and I was delighted to be invited to take part in the filming.”

Mrs Jerram joined 120 people aged over 65 to show off her skills, dancing to Chicken Playback by The Bees alongside her fellow cast members.

She added: "The energy and excitement at the filming was fantastic and the people involved were from all walks of life.

“It was a really great experience to be involved in something that is trying to change people's perceptions of what growing older means.

Duncan Lewis, director of marketing at Age UK, said: "Joan was a fantastic asset to the cast, we are delighted that she entered the search and came down to London to take part in the advert.

“Her energy and attitude were exactly what we were looking for.”

The advert will run for the next three weeks. It can be viewed online, at ageuk.org.uk/tvad