Strictly Tess Daly
Strictly Come Dancing presenter, Tess Daly is married to Vernon Kay. They live in Buckinghamshire with their two-year-old daughter Phoebe. She talked to Karla Napoleon.
On Saturdays, my lead up to the night's live broadcast of Strictly starts at 9am when I get to the BBC studios in west London. I do voiceovers for the contestants' video diaries. Sometimes a dancer falls over or bursts into tears. I always try to be supportive, but it also means changing the video diaries.
It's definitely a bonus when there are handsome men on the show. Vernon laughs at me drooling over the men when we're both watching the show at home.
It's not every day you get to dress so glamorously. But that's what I love about the show. Sadly, though, I don't get to keep the dresses as we're on the BBC.
I love to dance, but I dance for pleasure. There is no way I'd put myself in the same category as our professionals. Vernon and I slow danced to our first song at our wedding. Well, I was trying to go slow, but he spun me around and kept speeding up. The story of our lives.
I'm a secret Internet shopper. I do it privately, when everyone else is in bed. My favourite site is net-a-porter.com. It's gorgeous, yet lethal.
Vernon told me he was a great cook. “I do the most amazing sea bass,” he said when we met. What he didn't tell me was that was his only dish and he does it once every three years! Luckily, I love to cook. Vernon's a big fan and knows the more compliments he gives me, the more I'll cook.
Nothing prepares you for losing a parent. My dad died from emphysema and I find it hard to talk about because it still feels so raw. He was the most constant influence in my life and suddenly not to have him there, to give me his opinion, was devastating.
He used to say, “We're here for a good time, not a long time,” and that's my philosophy. Smell the roses, because it's a short life.
Mum and I have always been close. I go to Stockport, where I'm from, every couple of months, or she comes to visit us. We spend time with Phoebe or go shopping.
I'm an ambassador for Age Concern. I think old people deserve more respect, which, as a nation, we tend to forget. Vernon and I are also patrons of Great Ormond Street Hospital. As a mother, your worst nightmare is that your child will fall sick, so it's great to be involved with that hospital, which helps so many children get better.
Prince Charles is a big Strictly fan. I met him at Clarence House when I became an Age Concern ambassador. He said that he'd always wanted to tango. He would be the ultimate contestant!
Find out more about Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing professional, Karen Hardy talks about her marriage
Look through our gallery of gorgeous cover stars including the lovely Tess Daly.
See a full index of Lifestyle or discuss similar topics on our forum
