Tess Daly, the longtime host of the popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing, has made the decision to step down after more than two decades. Her husband, Vernon Kay, expressed his support for her choice with a heartfelt message.
The announcement from Tess came on Thursday morning, coinciding with the start of week five of the current Strictly season. In a video shared with Claudia Winkleman, Tess disclosed that both she and Claudia would not be returning for the upcoming series.
Subsequently, Tess took to Instagram to elaborate on her departure. In a reflective statement, she conveyed her farewell to Strictly Come Dancing after 21 remarkable years. Tess described the show as a cherished “second family” that had a profound impact on her life. She fondly recalled co-hosting with Bruce Forsyth, admired the dancers, and expressed gratitude to the viewers.
Closing her message, Tess assured fans that while she was bidding farewell to Strictly, the show would always have a special place in her heart. She emphasized that it was the right moment to pass on the baton.
Vernon Kay, a BBC Radio 2 presenter and Tess’s spouse since 2003, initially shared a screenshot of BBC News covering Tess’s announcement on his Instagram Stories. Later, he publicly extended his support by leaving heart emojis on Tess’s Instagram post.
As fans and fellow Strictly stars expressed gratitude to Tess for her contributions to the show, Vernon’s gesture of support with the heart emojis was notable. The couple, who have two daughters, have been together since just before Tess started hosting Strictly.
Tess’s departure from Strictly coincided with her and Claudia being honored with MBEs for their broadcasting services in the recent King’s birthday honors. The duo had mutually agreed to leave the show together.
In a joint video explaining their decision, Tess and Claudia emphasized their love for working as a hosting pair on Strictly. They expressed gratitude to the BBC and everyone involved in the show, stating that leaving together felt like the right choice at this time.
While both hosts praised Strictly in their statements, their exit followed some controversies surrounding the show. Last year, the program faced scrutiny following bullying and harassment allegations made by Amanda Abbington against professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.