The end of an era for Strictly Come Dancing was marked in a deeply personal way this weekend, as presenter Tess Daly's eldest daughter shared an emotional behind-the-scenes moment from the show's final live episode.
A Daughter's Poignant Tribute
Ahead of the grand finale going live on air, Phoebe Kay posted a touching video on TikTok. The clip captured her mother, Tess Daly, and co-host Claudia Winkleman walking onto the famous dancefloor for the very last time together. The studio audience greeted the iconic duo with rapturous applause as they made their entrance.
In a carefully crafted edit, Phoebe slowed the footage down and set it to Harry Styles' song 'Sign of the Times'. The lyrics 'Welcome to the final show, hope you're wearing your best clothes' played out perfectly, underscoring the significance of the moment for the show's legion of loyal fans.
The Emotional Final Walk
As the pair stepped forward, Tess was seen scanning the audience before her eyes landed on her daughter. Her face immediately broke into a wide, beaming smile as she waved back. Claudia, walking beside her co-host of more than a decade, also acknowledged the cheering crowd, the atmosphere electric ahead of the final competition.
Phoebe, who watched the live show from the audience with her father Vernon Kay and sister Amber, captioned the video: 'Crying in the audience their final Strictly live show gonna miss it all proud of you mum'.
Viewers React to a Changing of the Guard
The post quickly resonated with viewers, many of whom praised the edit for perfectly capturing the emotion of the occasion. The comments section flooded with tributes to the departing presenters.
Fans expressed their sadness, with one writing: 'going to miss seeing Tess and Claudia on my TV every Saturday night'. Another added: 'It's not going to be the same without Tess & Claud', while others called them 'the best duo'. The overwhelming sentiment was that the pair are irreplaceable and intrinsically linked to the show's identity.
Earlier on the day of the final, Tess herself had shared a sweet surprise from her daughters. She posted to her Instagram Stories: 'Woke up to a lovely surprise from my girls on finals day!' The video showed an array of treats laid out by Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16, including chocolate, throwback photos from her Strictly tenure, and a Terry's Chocolate Orange.
The departure was confirmed back in October, when Tess and Claudia announced their exits in a joint Instagram video. Tess, who has fronted the show for a mammoth 21 years and 216 days – earning a Guinness World Record – said the time was right to 'pass over the baton'. She began presenting in 2004 alongside the late Sir Bruce Forsyth, with Claudia joining as co-host in 2014.
In their announcement, Claudia noted the show had been a part of their lives since their children were 'babes in arms', and Tess reflected they had 'cherished every second'. Their final live show together marks the conclusion of a defining chapter in British television entertainment.
