She’s known as everyone’s favourite Saturday night host after gracing out screens with her sparkling personality and ageless beauty as the presenter of Strictly Come Dancing since 2004.
And this weekend Tess Daly didn’t disappoint as the blonde bombshell looked as glamorous as ever after the BBC One dance competition returned to the infamous Blackpool Tower Ballroom for the first time in three years.
The 53-year-old first started her Strictly career alongside the late Bruce Forsyth where they hosted the show until he was forced to retire due to illness back in 2014.
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By then, Claudia Winkleman had moved from BBC Two’s spin-off show It Takes Two to join the mum-of-two on the show two years later.
But away from the cameras, there is very little known about the former model and her family life as she continues to shield her private life from her loyal legion of fans on social media.
Now, the Daily Star has taken a deep dive inside her quiet life away from the glitz and glamour of the Strictly ballroom.
Real name
(Image: PA)
Born Helen Elizabeth Daly in the heart of Stockport, Tess changed her name to Tess at the age of 18 when she was scouted outside of a McDonald’s restaurant where she was offered an opportunity to begin a modelling career.
At the time, there was already a model named Helen Daly so the starlet was asked to pick a different one in order to make a name for herself in her new career.
Her agent at the time was infatuated with Natassja Kinski from the film ‘Tess’ which inspired her showbiz name.
However the starlet has never officially changed her name by deed poll out of respect for her parents.
In the 1990s, Tess soared to stardom after she appeared in two Duran Duran music videos and had a successful modelling career which allowed her to travel all over the globe including a five-year sting in Paris.
Then, in 2000, the doting mum broke into a career in television after appearing on such shoes as Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast, SMTV Live, Get Your Kit Pff and Smash Hits TV.
Just four years later, the TV sensation cemented her place in TV history after she took on a presenting role alongside the beloved British entertainer which has gone on to inspire ballroom shows all over the world.
Marriage and family
(Image: PA)
Shortly after her television career started to take off, she met her now-husband Horwich-born Vernon Kay after they worked together on Channel 4’s T4 back in 2001.
Tess described her first meeting with the 48-year-old presenter as “explosive” and it wasn’t long before the power couple started their romance together.
Speaking about how their romance began, the Strictly host told Digital Spy in 2013: “It was all quite immediate, really, because we instantly had such a blast together.
(Image: tessdaly / Instagram)
“I couldn’t imagine having more fun with anyone else. It was pretty explosive, I tell you,” she admitted.
The happy couple went on to tie the knot just two years later back in September 2003 at St Mary’s Church in Vernon’s hometown just over the Lancashire border.
They have since gone on to welcome two beautiful daughters together – their eldest Phoebe in 2004 and their youngest daughter Amber in 2009.
Sexting scandal
(Image: Getty Images)
But it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the showbiz duo after it was revealed in 2010 that Vernon had been sending racy messages to glamour model Rhian Sugden.
The former Radio One DJ exposed his indiscretion and issued a public apology to his wife and family in an interview with The Sun.
He told the publication: “Tess is extremely upset about this and we’re working through it. But in some ways, I’m glad this story has come out.
(Image: tessdaly/Instagram)
“It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I knew it was getting silly. I’m never going to do it again and hopefully I can clear the slate clean and start again.
“I’m so sorry. I’ve been an idiot and I’ve let my family down.”
The dynamic duo beat the odds and decided to stay together and work through their problems together as a unit, with their marriage now appearing to go from strength to strength.
(Image: PA)
In 2015, Vernon admitted he had been in contact with Rhian once more but explained that it was only to discuss the incident that shook his marriage back in 2010.
In 2020, while the TV hunk appeared on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Vernon told his fellow campmates that he and Tess has since renewed their vows to each other.
Lavish home
(Image: Instagram)
The couple tend to keep their private life under wraps as much as possible on social media.
On social media, Tess usually shares her slew of glam snaps of her Strictly Come Dancing outfits, mixed with the occasional selfie of herself and Vernon.
From the rare glimpses inside their glamorous life that we do get online, Tess shares her love of cooking for her beautiful family as she shares her mouth-watering dishes with her loyal legion of fans online.
She also no stranger to a bit of DIY, as the blonde beauty shared a slew of snaps of herself painting furniture and upcycling objects in and around her home.
(Image: Instagram)
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As she shares her nifty tips and tricks with her followers, she gave users an insight into her palatial home which is fitted with it’s own pool and sprawling gardens.
The loving mum boasts a spacious monochrome kitchen where she shows off her culinary skills before she kicks back and relaxes in her gorgeous cream living room which features an enormous L shaped sofa.
The open plan kitchen dinner is fitted with glass doors surrounding the space that leads out to her plush green garden and lets a lot of light into the room.
She also owns a kitted out home gym where she is regularly seen working up a sweat to maintain her elegant figure, and gave fans a glimpse at her pink girly bedroom while Vernon was in the jungle.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
