Tess Daly

Tess Daly
Damien Everett · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Tess Daly
Caption	Daly in 2015
Birth name	Helen Elizabeth Daly
Birth date	1970-04-27
Birth place	Walsall, Staffordshire, England
Occupation	Television presenter, model, author
Years active	1990s–present
Spouse	Vernon Kay

Tess Daly Tess Daly (born Helen Elizabeth Daly; 27 April 1970) is an English television presenter, former model and author best known for hosting the BBC One dance competition programme Strictly Come Dancing. She has worked across British and international media, appearing on television, in magazines and in promotional campaigns for fashion and beauty brands. Daly's career spans modelling agencies, commercial broadcasting, prime-time entertainment and charitable initiatives.

Early life and education

Daly was born in Walsall, Staffordshire, England, and raised in Alvechurch, Worcestershire. She attended Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School and later trained in performing arts and modelling-related studies. During her youth she moved to Birmingham where she began local modelling and media engagements before relocating for work in Paris, Milan and New York City. Her early exposure to the fashion capitals influenced contacts with agencies such as Models 1 and international brands.

Modelling career

Daly's modelling career began with commercial and editorial work in the early 1990s, appearing in campaigns and on catwalks in London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week. She modelled for retail and beauty clients, including campaigns for L'Oréal, high-street retailers and catalogue photography distributed across Europe, North America and Asia. Daly worked with fashion photographers and stylists associated with publications like Vogue (magazine), Elle (magazine), Glamour (magazine), Marie Claire (magazine) and Cosmopolitan (magazine). She also featured in lifestyle shoots for broadcasters and publishers such as BBC Television, ITV, Channel 4 and publishing houses linked to celebrity and lifestyle titles.

Television career

Daly transitioned to broadcasting with presenting roles on entertainment and lifestyle programmes for Channel 5, GMTV, BBC One and commercial television networks. She became co-presenter of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One alongside Bruce Forsyth and later Clive Owen-era peers, eventually partnering with Vernon Kay off-screen through a shared profile in British media. Her tenure on Strictly Come Dancing made her a fixture of Saturday-night entertainment alongside celebrity contestants from Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Doctor Who and the wider British television industry. Daly has presented live specials, charity broadcasts and spin-offs linked to Children in Need and Comic Relief, and has appeared as a guest on panel shows such as The One Show, This Morning and Loose Women.

She has hosted event coverage for awards and ceremonies including the National Television Awards, film festivals like the BAFTA Film Awards red carpet segments and promotional interviews at festivals such as the Glastonbury Festival. Daly has made cameo appearances in scripted television and voice contributions to animated projects connected to British broadcasters and production companies including BBC Studios and independent producers.

Other media and writing

Daly has written and contributed to lifestyle features in magazines such as Hello! (magazine), OK! (magazine), Radio Times, Woman & Home and fashion supplements aligned with national newspapers like The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and The Independent. She published a lifestyle book and contributed forewords and fashion commentaries for coffee-table titles associated with publishers including Penguin Books, HarperCollins and Ebury Publishing. Daly has fronted commercial endorsements, recorded branded content for broadcasters and appeared on radio programmes on networks such as BBC Radio 2 and Smooth Radio, discussing television, family life and style.

Personal life

Daly married television presenter Vernon Kay in 2003; the couple have two daughters. They live in the United Kingdom and are frequently covered in lifestyle and celebrity pages of outlets including Hello! (magazine), OK! (magazine), The Sun and Daily Mail. Daly's family life has intersected with public engagements at sporting events such as Wimbledon, charity galas at venues like The O2 Arena and public appearances at film premieres hosted by companies like Universal Pictures and Warner Bros..

Philanthropy and honours

Daly supports charitable organisations and has participated in fundraising for causes associated with Children in Need, health charities like Macmillan Cancer Support and children's hospices connected to national networks. She has appeared at benefit concerts and auctions alongside figures from British Red Cross, Marie Curie (charity) and arts charities supported by institutions such as Royal Albert Hall and National Trust. Daly has received recognition in television and style lists compiled by outlets including Radio Times and Heat (magazine), and has been nominated for awards linked to broadcasting at ceremonies such as the National Television Awards and industry-led honours.

Category:1970 births Category:English television presenters Category:English female models Category:Living people