Tess Daly, the host of Strictly Come Dancing, emotionally revealed her struggle to accept a significant change in her family life alongside Vernon Kay in recent times. The 56-year-old TV personality surprised the entertainment world by announcing her joint decision with Claudia Winkleman to step away from Strictly after the current season concludes. This move will enable her to dedicate more time to her family, including her husband Vernon Kay and their daughters Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16.
Expressing her sentiments, Tess disclosed that she finds it hard to come to terms with her eldest daughter Phoebe leaving for university to pursue studies in film and television. She shared her reluctance to see her children grow up and leave the nest, highlighting how much she cherishes their presence as her closest companions.
Having been a constant presence on the BBC show Strictly since its inception in 2004, Tess emphasized her love for motherhood, which has been a defining aspect of her life for the past two decades. While jokingly dismissing the idea of joining Claudia Winkleman on The Traitors due to her perceived lack of skill and a poor poker face, Tess and Claudia will bid farewell to Strictly with their final episode airing on Christmas Day during the annual Christmas special.
Claudia revealed that the decision to leave Strictly was a mutual agreement made years ago, dispelling the notion of staying indefinitely on the show. She humorously mentioned their pact to depart at the same time, sealed over pizza, stating that the time feels right for them to move on together.
Although Tess has been the face of Strictly since its inception, Claudia initially started on the spin-off show It Takes Two before progressing to host the results show and eventually succeeding Sir Bruce Forsyth in 2014. Their joint statement, released on October 23, expressed gratitude for their time as hosts, affirming that leaving together was always the plan, marking the end of a remarkable journey on Strictly.
As they prepare to bid farewell, Tess and Claudia acknowledged the support from the BBC and the entire crew, expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to be part of such a beloved show. While they anticipate an emotional goodbye, they look forward to continuing their “keep dancing” mantra, even if it means lounging in tracksuit bottoms at home, savoring some pizza together.