After an incredible 21-year tenure, Tess Daly is preparing to take her final bow as the host of Strictly Come Dancing, with only a handful of shows remaining. The beloved BBC presenter, feeling nostalgic, recently took a delightful trip down memory lane, revisiting her most iconic and sometimes cringe-worthy fashion moments from the show's extensive archives.
A Walk Through the Strictly Archives
In a candid Instagram video, Tess Daly dissected a collection of her most memorable ensembles. She openly admitted that while she would happily "revisit" some of the gorgeous dresses, others are "better left in the wardrobe." The journey through her style history was filled with both laughter and touching memories.
One particularly poignant photo featured Tess posing with her original co-host, the late Bruce Forsyth, in a promotional shot from her very first series in 2004. While the image projected pure glamour, with Tess in what appeared to be a chic backless gown, she revealed a major secret behind the pose. "I was eight and a half months pregnant with Phoebe," Tess explained, "and the stylist didn't have any dresses that would fit me." The available gowns were all a petite size eight or ten. The solution? A strategic back shot to hide the fact the dress was completely unzipped to accommodate her baby bump.
Changing Looks and Co-Host Chemistry
The fashion retrospective also featured photos with her current co-host, Claudia Winkleman, who will also be departing the show after the 2025 series concludes. Reflecting on an early picture of them together, Tess quipped about her own "mousy locks," joking, "Gosh, bit shy of a peroxide there, wasn't I? Claud looks adorable and she literally looks 12."
Another hairstyle, a dramatically high up-do, also drew a cringe and a laugh. "There's that hair again, really, really high," she said. "I think I'm about three inches shorter without that bouffant."
The Final Curtain Call
Tess and Claudia announced their joint departure from Strictly back in October. Their final hosting duty will be for the pre-recorded Christmas special, which is set to air on Christmas Day. Tess Daly, 56, has been a constant presence throughout all 21 series of the BBC1 juggernaut, stepping up as the main host in 2014 following Bruce Forsyth's departure.
While Claudia Winkleman, 54, had been seen by some as the sidekick, her stock has soared recently thanks to the massive success of BBC1's 'The Traitors' and its celebrity spin-off. Reports suggest Claudia was keen to explore new opportunities away from Strictly. Upon learning of her co-host's intentions, Tess, a former model, decided to honour their pact to leave together, feeling she had "served her time" on the iconic show.
In recent years, Tess had hinted at passing on the baton, while Claudia had encountered awkward conversations with Strictly bosses about the show's schedule conflicting with family commitments, such as taking her son to university.
