Tess Daly's real name leaves Strictly Come Dancing fans gobsmacked

Tess Daly has been a staple of British TV for nearly three decades, but the Strictly Come Dancing co-host wasn't always known by the name we all recognise her by

Strictly Come Dancing's much-loved presenter, Tess Daly, has been a household name since she was 17. The 55-year-old TV star, married to Vernon Kay, began her career as a model after being spotted outside a McDonald's in Manchester while waiting for her sister.

However, 'Tess' is not her real name but a stage name, a revelation that has left Strictly fans stunned. Born Helen Elizabeth Daly in 1969, she adopted the name Tess when she started her modelling career but never legally changed it out of respect for her parents, Vivian and Sylvia.

She explained the reason behind her name change, stating that when she started 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.

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Her agent, who was "obsessed" with actress Nastassja Kinski, star of the 1979 film Tess, suggested the name 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," according to OK!

The TV darling admitted 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 confessed, "I've never changed it by deed poll or anything because I think it would be disrespectful to my parents."

Despite that, she and hubby Vernon Kay tied the knot under her birth name in 2003. Tess and TV personality Vernon Kay, also known for his T4 days, celebrated their union with a splendid ceremony in Vernon's hometown of Bolton on September 12, 2003.

Now proud parents to two daughters, Phoebe and Amber, the couple shared an adorable glimpse into their family life as they posted about Phoebe receiving her A-level results this past summer. The joyous occasion was marked with a grand party at Manchester's exclusive Ivy Asia restaurant in Spinningfields, where they commemorated Phoebe's academic achievements with evident glee.

This follows Tess sharing her genuine ageing revelation. While still looking stunning at 55 and hosting the 2024 season of Strictly, Tess has disclosed some secrets behind her youthful appearance.

She did acknowledge having an ageing moment, recounting "wrinkles galore" but accepts it as an inevitable part of getting older.

In a chat with Closer, Tess opened up about her "Oh my god" moment. She expressed: "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 revealed she follows a specific skincare routine to maintain her youthful glow.

She admitted to wearing less makeup now than in her younger years, even on screen. Tess has never opted for surgical procedures but invests in skin treatments like Ultratherapy, which lifts and tightens the skin, starting from around £500.