Strictly Come Dancing fans left stunned as they discover Tess Daly's real name
Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly has been on our TV screens for decades, but the 55 year old has been known by a different name since she was a teenager
Tess Daly, the beloved Strictly Come Dancing presenter, has been a familiar face since she was 17.
The 55-year-old TV star, who is married to Vernon Kay, kick-started her career as a model after being spotted outside a McDonald's in Manchester while waiting for her sister. However, Tess wasn't always known by that name. In fact, 'Tess' is not her real name but a stage name, a fact that has left Strictly fans gobsmacked.
Born in 1969 as Helen Elizabeth Daly, she adopted the name Tess when she embarked on her modelling career but never legally changed it out of respect for her parents, Vivian and Sylvia. She revealed the reason behind her name change, explaining that when she began modelling at 17, there was already a Helen Davies at her agency. As such, she was advised to drop 'Helen Daly' due to its similarity.
READ MORE: One Direction's Niall Horan abruptly announces he is stepping back from limelight
READ MORE: Strictly star Nick Knowles' much younger fiancée drops jaws in racy lingerie shoot
The name Tess was suggested by her agent, who was "obsessed" with actress Nastassja Kinski, star of the 1979 film, Tess. Tess recalled: "So Tess it was. I was gullible and impressionable. Mind you, two weeks later, I was in Japan, then I travelled the world - Paris, Milan, New York," reports OK!.
The telly favourite has confessed that only one person stubbornly sticks to her real name, revealing: "My mum's really the only person who still calls me Helen, and that's not often. She tends to call me 'love', so when she does say 'Helen' it can take me a while to respond." Tess admitted: "I've never changed it by deed poll or anything because I think it would be disrespectful to my parents."
Despite this, Tess and her hubby Vernon Kay, the famous face from T4 and T4 On The Beach, tied the knot using her birth name in 2003. Telly stars Tess and Vernon, who was also known for his modelling gigs, became Mr and Mrs in a romantic ceremony set in Vernon's native Bolton on September 12, 2003, and they are proud parents to two daughters, Phoebe and Amber.
In an endearing peek into their personal life, the couple showed off a snapshot of their oldest, Phoebe, as she got her A-level results this summer. They marked the momentous occasion with a lavish celebration at Manchester's swanky Ivy Asia in Spinningfields, documenting their daughter's academic success with much excitement.
It comes after Tess revealed her "Oh my god" ageing moment. It's no secret that the TV star looks amazing at 55, but she has admitted that she had a slight wobble when it comes to ageing. She is back on our screens as she presents the 2024 series of Strictly but she has now given away her secrets as how she stays looking so young.
However, she had admitted there was a moment when she said she has "wrinkles galore". Despite this, Tess has said that she knows there are no alternatives and it is just a part of ageing. Speaking to Closer, Tess discussed her "on my god" moment. She said: "I've got wrinkles galore. You know when you look down at your iPhone and the camera is open, and you go, 'Oh my God!' I'm at that point - but what's the alternative?"
Tess has said she has a specific skin care routine to keep her looking fresh. She said she now wears less makeup than when she was younger, even when she graces our screens. Tess says that she has never gone under the knife but invests in skin treatments such as Ultratherapy that lifts and tightens the skin and stars at around £500 (approximately €600).
Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
Sign up to the Irish Mirror's daily newsletter here and get breaking news and top stories direct to your inbox.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
