Presenter Tess Daly is the well-known face of Strictly Come Dancing, alongside Claudia Winkleman, and she is loved by many. However, you might be surprised to find out her real name.
The presenter was not born Tess Daly but instead given the first name Helen when she was born in March 1969. Her full name is Helen Elizabeth Daly and she very quickly changed to Tess early in her career.
Tess started as a model, after being scouted at the age of 17 while waiting for her sister outside McDonald's in Manchester. At the time there was another model in the industry also named Helen Daly and Tess was advised to change her name.
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She changed her name to "Tess" on her agent's advice, later saying this was because her agent was inspired by the Nastassja Kinski movie of the same name. From then on she has been Tess and never looked back.
Despite always going by Tess she has never officially changed her name. In 2020, she said: "I've never changed it by deed poll anything because I think it would be disrespectful to my parents".
Tess had a very successful career as a model, modelling all over the world and living in New York for five years. The star first started her career in TV when she hosted The Big Breakfast's Find Me a Model competition.
She has presented Strictly Come Dancing since the show began in 2004, first with Bruce Forsyth until he left the show in 2013 and now with Claudia. Tess is married to fellow television presenter Vernon Kay and they have two daughters together, Phoebe and Amber.
Vernon and Tess have worked together when they hosted Just the Two of Us on BBC One in 2007. In 2008 Tess won the Children in Need Strictly Come Dancing special when she was partnered with Anton du Beke.
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